10 
F8 



; 




snt</ f/// net //////.) f/e fuane . 



AN 

INTERESTING COMPANION 

¥OR A 

LEISURE HOUR 



OR, AN 

HISTORICAL, GEOGRAPHICAL, AND 
CHRONOLOGICAL COMPENDIUM : 

CONTAINING 

A BRIEF BUT COMPREHENSIVE HISTORY 

OF 

ENGLAND, IRELAND, SCOTLAND, AND 
HOLLAND- 

TOGETHER WITH A VARIETY OB CURIOt 9 
ARTICLES, BOTH MISCELLANEOUS AND 

MASONIC, NOT GENERALLY ' 
KNOWN. 

Multuiri in parvo. 

BY D.^ASER, 

AVTKOB. OT " THE MENTAL FLOWER GARDEN," 
" SELECT BIOGRAPHY," &C. 

* NEW-YORK: 

»*fNTED »t John Low, no. 17 chatham.btseet. 

' 481** 






c^7 



District of New-York, ss. 

PL it remembered, that on the sixth day of June, in the 
L. S. thirty-eighth year of the independence of the United States 
of America, Donald Fraser of the said district, hath de- 
posited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof he claims 
as author, in the words following, to wit : 

" An interesting companion for a leisure hour, or an historical, geo- 
graphical, and chronological compendium, containing a brief but 
comprehensive history of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Holland : 
together with a variety of curious articles, both miscellaneous and 
masonic, not generally known. Multum in parvo. By D. Fraser, 
author of the ■ Mental Flower Garden,' ' Select Biography,' etc" 

In conformity to the act of the congress of the United States, en- 
titled u an act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the co- 
pies of ma,ps, charts, and books to the authors and proprietors of such 
copies, duriug the times therein mentioned." And also to an act en- 
titled i{ an act supplementary to an act entitled an act for the encou- 
raga of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and 

boo'i j the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the time 
therein mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof to the arts, of 
d&signing, engraving, and etching^historical and other prints." 

THERON RUDD, 
G/vrk of the Sxstrictj 



♦ INTRODUCTION. 

It i* hoped that this small volume will prove 
an acceptable remembrancer to those already 
conversant with the subjects treated upon: And 
that it will be found highly useful and interest- 
ing to youth and others* who may not have had 
an opportunity of reading history in detail. — 
The miscellaneous parts contain many articlesf 
which perhaps not one person in a hundred/ 
knew before. 



CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER I — Miscellaneous. 
Chronology in sacred and profane history pae-e 5 

Events that occurred at the vernal equinox > 

Miscellaneous remarks - * - § 
Geographical remarks on most countries in 

the world ----- 8. 
The present population and number of square 
miles in the different states of Europe 

and the United States of America - 1 2 

The four quarters of the Ayorld ib 

The present annual income of Great Britain 13- 
Population of the colonies of North America 

in 1753 - . - - - ib 

Remarks on the human species - - 14 

relative to Ireland - - - 1 5 

Eulogium on masonry - - - - 1 6 

on benevolence - - 21 

Remarks relative to England ... ib 

Scotland - * - 25 

CHAPTER II; 

History of Ireland - 2& 



IV 



CHAPTER III — Defence of Christianity. 

Introductory remarks 40 

Sentiments of Sir Francis Bacon 43 

Honorable Robert Boyle - 44 

Sir Isaac Newton - - 45 

Joseph Addison, Esquire - 46 

George Fox - - - ib 

Robert Barclay - - 47 

William Penn 48 

Honorable Thomas Erskine 5 1 

Sir Matthew Hale - - 54 

John Jay, Esquire - - 57 

CHAPTER IV. 

History of England - - - - 58 
CHAPTER V. 

History of Holland - - - - 70 

CHAPTER VI. 

Historv of Scotland * - - 83 



CHAPTER VII.— Afesom'c Articles. 
On masonry 



Advantages of masonry - 
Masonic character of Washington 

address of De Witt Clinton, Esquire 
An address by P. M. John Vanderbilt, Jun. 
Charity the first of masonic duties 
Brief description of masonry - 

An address to freemasons in general 
Sketches of the royal art 
Masonic principles - 

Character of a freemason 
Masonic hymn 

Prayers - - 

Masonic sentiments and toasts 
■ Duties of a mason 
Masonic precepts 
The Triad 

Advice to the fair sex 
Elegant song 
Masonic son g - - 



107 

108 

110 

US 

126' 

132 

- 153 

- 134. 

- ib 

- 135 

- 137 

- 138 
139, 140 

- ib 
141 
ib 
142 
ib 
143 
144 



AN 

INTERESTING COMPANION 

¥011 THE 

FIRE-SIDE. '&c. 
CHAPTER I. 

—MISCELLANEOUS — 

Chronology in Sacred and Prophane History 

1, Time commenced on the fourth day of the 
-week, at noon, at the autumnal equinox, and on a 
full moon day. 2. The Sun and Moon were cre- 
ated in that month, and on the first day of the first 
lunar year of the world. 3. The birth-day of the 
Messiah, happening on the same day. 4. The 
Sabbatical years, and the years of jubilee, began and 
endfid at the autumnal equinox, 5. The Temple 
of Solomon was dedicated on the same day of the 
month and day of the year on which Christ was 
born. 6 The conception of the Messiah, happen- 
ed at a new moon ; and his birth, at the autumnal 
equinox. 

Events that occurred at tlie Vernal Equinox, 

God called Abram out of ?7r, at the vernal equi- 
nox. 2. The 215 years which the children of 
Israel sojourned in Egypt, ended at tie vernal equi- 
nox. 3. T^e children of Israel departed cut of 

A 



Egypt, and entered Canaan, at the vernal equinox. 
The prophet Daniel's 70 weeks, or 400 years began 
and ended at the vernal equinox. The reigns of 
Saul, David and Solomon, began and ended at the 
vernal equinox. 

Autumnal, means the season of the year between 
summer and winter. By vernal, is meant, the 
spring season. The conception of John the Bap- 
tist, happened at full moon, and his birth at the ver- 
bal equinox. 

Thus we see, that the equinoxes have been dis- 
tinguished by many remarkable events. 

It is thought by some, that the second coming of 
the Messiah will be at the autumnal equinox ; at 
which time the world was created. 

The autumnal equinox begins about the 23d of 
September, and the vernal about the 2 1 st of March. 

The Creation of the World 4004 years before 
Christ. The birth of Cain, 4003. The Five Books 
of Moses were written 1452. David, king of Israel, 
born 1055. The History of the Bible, 430. John 
the Baptist, preached in Judea, 20 years afteqChrist. 
Jesus Christ was crucified 3 3. The first persecu- 
tion of the Christians, by Nero, 64 The Mariner's 
Compass discovered at Naples, 1 302. Gun-pow- 
der invented by Srjartg, a German monk, 1310. 
The English revenue, in 1421, only amounted to 
55,754 pounds, and now it is about SO millions. 
The discovery of the circulation of the blood, by 
Harvey, \n 1619. Inoculation first tried upon cri- 
minals in 1727. A comet passed so near the Sun, 
in Sir Isaac Newton's time (92 years ago) that he 
computed its heat to be nearly three thousand times 
greater than that of red-hot iron. China, contains 
'three hundred and thirty-three millions of people, 
nearly 42 times as many as those in the United 
States, rating the latter at eight millions ; and aU 
most twice as many as all Europe. Asia, is 4800 
mile* in length, and 4300 in breadth. In this quar- 
1-T of the world, Adam and Eve were created ; here 



Itfoah and his family rested after the deluge : this 
country is famous for the richness of its soil, and 
the salubrity of its air ; and, yet its inhabitants have 
been wretched from time immemorial. 

Assyria, is the most ancient empire in the world, 
(notwithstanding the claims of the Chinese.) It is 
said to have been founded by Ashur, shortly after 
the Cood. The famous city of Nineveh, which was 
60 miles in circumference, was the capital of 
Assyria. 

The Books of Moses, are the most ancient and 
the most genuine record of what happened in the 
early ages of the world. 

Herodotus, is the oldest of the heathen historic 
ans. He flourished a thousand years after Moses, 
Hence, the Bible is the oldest book in the world. 

America, South and North, is about 9000 miles 
in length, and nearly 3000 in breadth ; bounded East 
by the Atlantic, West by the Pacific Ocean, South 
by the Southern Ocean ; its Northern boundary is 
unknown, and supposed to extend to the North Pole. 
America, took its name from an Italian, named 
American us, who made a voyage to the Western 
continent some years after Columbus discovered 
America J\orth and c -outh America are divided 
by the Isthmus of Darien, a neck of land 60 miles 
wide : — the largest lakes in the known world are in 
America, which may justly be called inland seas ; 
and the greatest river, the river La Plata, is said to 
be 150 miles wide, where it empties into the ocean ; 
it rises in Peru, and runs a course of 4000 miles. 

Of the whole population of the world 15 mil- 
lions are Jews ; 500 millions 500,000 are Chris- 
tians ; 280 millions are Mahometans, and the rest 
Pagans or Heathen. 

The whole number of people on the earth, is 
said to be nearly 900 millions ; and reckoning 30 
years to a generation, the deaths in every year must 
be about 30 millions; in every day, S3 thousand 133 ; 



8 

!-n every hour, three thousand 412 ; in every mi- 
nute 57. 

Any given space, which maintains one man in the 
barren regions of Iceland, maintains in Turkey, 36 ; 
in Spain, 63 ; in Ireland, 99 ; in Scotland, 90 ; in 
England, 163; in France, 151 ; in Germany, 127 ; 
in Italy, 172 ; in Holland, 224. 

Geographical Remarks of most Countries in the 
World, 

Armenia, in Asia, length 380, breadth 300 miles ; 
capital, Erzcram.) lat. 41. long. 52, on Mount Ara- 
rat. In this country, Noah's Ark first rested afte? 
lhe deluge. 

Arabia, in Asia, length 1430, breadth 120 miles ; 
capital, Mecca, lat. 41. 46. N. long. 41. The fa- 
mous Mount Sinai, on which the Law was delivered 
to Moses, stands in this country. 

Brazil, in South America, length 2500, breadth 
TOO miles ; capital, Rio-Janeiro, lat. 24. 15. S. long. 
43. 40. W: To (his country the Prince Regent and 
Royal Family of Portugal lately emigrated ; rather 
than accompany the late King of Spain and Royal 
Family to France. 

China, Asia, length 1950, breadth 1200 miles; 
capital, Pekin, lat. 39. 54. N. long. 116. 29. E. Pe- 
king contains twenty-five times as many people as 
the city of New- Fork, rating the latter at 95,000. 
The revenue of the Emperor of China, amounts an- 
nually fee upwards of 88 millions of dollars. 

Detimurky Europe, length 240, breadth 1^0 miles; 
< r.pital, Copenhagen, lat. 55. 40. N. long. 12. 15. E. 
The Danes, in early times, paid religious worship to 
the gods Fryr, Thyr, Thor, Saturus, in the Danish 
language, four days in the week ; they still retain 
the names of four of their deities. 

England, Europe, length 330, breadth 300 miles ; 
capital, London, lat. 51. England is generally sup.' 



9 

posed to have been peopled from Gaul, (row 
France.) For naval tactics, commercial enterprize 
and manufactures, the English are excelled by no 
n tion whatsoever. 

France, Europe, length 610, breadth 500 miles ; 
capital, Paris, lat. 47. 50. N. long. 3, E. This coun- 
try is situated in the centre of Europe ; boasts an 
immense population, and commanded by an ambi- 
tious and heroic chief, who aims at universal domi~ 
nation. 

Germany, Europe, length 620, breadth 530 miles ; 
capital, Vienna, lat. 48. 30. N.long. 16. 22. E. The 
warlike Germans, first resisted, next invaded, and 
lastly overturned and conquered the Roman monar- 
chy. The Reformation began in Germany in 1519. 

Greece, Asia, length 1000, breadth 980 miles ; 
capital, Constantinople, lat. 41. N. 30. 24. E. The 
present inhabitants of Greece are greatly degene* 
rated : their ancestors were once famous for arms, 
arts and science. It is now subject to the Turks. 

Holland, or the Batavian Republic, Europe, length 
150, breadth 130 miles ; capital, Amsterdam, lat. 52. 
25. N. long. 5. E. This country has lately been an* 
nexed to France. It is said to contain 1500 cities 
and villages. 

Judea, called « Palestine, the Holy Land, and 
Land of Promise" in Scripture ; anciently inhabited 
by the Jews, now a province of Asiatic Turkey j 
length 150, breadth 80 miles ; capital, Jerusalem^ 
lat. 32. long. 30. E. It was formerly divided into 
four parts, Idumea, Judea, Galilee and Samaria ; in 
king Solomon's time, it extended from the river 
Euphrates to the Mediterranean. 

India Proper, Asia, length 2000, breadth 1600 
miles ; capital, Delhi, lat. 20. N. 76. E. Here the- 
males marry at fourteen and the females at ten ! 
The revenue of the Great Mogul is immense, said 
to amount to -forty millions sterling ; or, one hun- 
dred and seventy-seven millions, seven hundred and 
b 2 



10 

seventy-seven thousand, seven hundred and seventy 
7-9 dollars. 

Ireland^ Europe, length 230, breadth 160 miles ; 
capital, Dublin, lat. 53. 20. ]N. long. 5. 12. W. Ire- 
land ii ten miles longer than Scotland, and just the 
same breadth. The distance between Ireland and 
Scotland is only twenty two miles. 

Italy-, Europe, length 650, breadth 200 miles ; 
capital, Rome. lat. 42. Ion*. 18. E. Italy, from its 
fertility and salubrity, is justly termed the garden 
of Europe. 

Malabar, Asia, length 400, breadth 130 miles; 
capital* Calcutta, lat. 1 1 . 2 J . N. long. 75. E. This 
was the first land that the Portuguese discovered in 
• he East Indies. 

Newfoundland, length 300, breadth 200 miles ; 
capital, Placentia, lat. 47. 30. Sf. long. 55. W. 
Here the English made the first settlement in 
America. 

Otaheite, in the Pacific Ocean ; length 60, breadth 
15 miles. The people here go naked ; the sacred 
snd social ties of marriage are quite neglected, and 
fchc tender and endearing ties of consanguinity are 
unknown. 

Poland, Europe, length 700, breadth 680 miles ; 
capital, Warsaw, lat. 52. 16. N. long. 21. E. Un- 
happy Poland, has experienced many revolutions. 

Portugal, Europe, length 350, breadth 1 40 miles ; 
vapilal, Lisbon, lat. SO. 20. N. long. 8. W. This 
country, at present, is in a revolutionary state. 

Prussia, Europe, length 160, breadth 1 12 miles; 
capital, Berlin, lat. 5 3. N. lorg. 20. F. Prussia, is 
the smallest kingdom in Europe, and the most re- 
cently erected, except those which Bonatiaric has 
created. 

Russia, Europe, length 6757, breadth 2320 
miles ; capital, Petersburgh, lat. 59. 57. N. long. 30. 
E. The empire of Russia, is the largest upon the 
'ace of the £lobe ; it is so very extensive, that 



11 

Hvhere it is noon in the eastern, it is nearly mid- 
night in the western part of this empire. 

Scotlaiid, Europe, length 270, breadth 160 miles ; 
capital, Edinburgh, Iafc 56. N. long. 4. W. Scot- 
land is, by far, the oldest monarchy in Europe, hav- 
ing had 335 kings : Fergus, the first king of Scot- 
land, was a native of Ireland, and crowned 330 years 
before the Christian era, 2144 years ago. 

S/iain, Europe, length 610, breadth 520 miles ; 
capital, Madrid, hit. 40. N. long. 4. VV. It was once 
a powerful kingdom, but is at present in a revolu- 
tionary state ; its King, Charles the 5th, and all the 
Royal Family, are now prisoners in France. 

Sweden, Europe, length 970, breadth 700 miles ; 
capital, Stockholm, lat. ^9. 30. N. long. 20. E. It 
is the largest kingdom in Europe. The late French 
General Bernadotte is Crown Prince : the rightful 
sovereign, Gustavus the. 4th, is now in exile. 

Switzerland, Europe, length 230, breadth 120 
miles ; capital, Berne, lat. 47. N. long. 8. E. This 
once free and highly happy country, is at present not 
so. As a certain writer strongly depicts it, " It is 
the empty and bloody skin of an immolated vic- 
tim ; it has nothing left but rocks, ruins and de- 
magogues." 

Turkey, Europe, length 910, breadth 760 miles j 
capital, Constantinople, lat. 41, 50. N. long. 28. E. 
The Grand Vizier, or first officer of state, has a sa- 
lary of 135,000 pounds sterling, besides presents 
and perquisites ; equal to twenty-four times the 
salary of the President of the United States ; but, 
when he displeases the people, in a few hours time 
they drag him from the Sultan y s arms, and cut off 
his head, hands and feet, and throw them before the 
palace gate. 

United States, length 2000, breadth 1040 miles, 
including Louisiana ; capital, Washington, lat. 38. 
53. W. It cost the United States, during the 
late war, for obtaining their Independence, 2 1 mil- 
Ifons of dollars. The United States contain crre 



•13 

million of square miles, or 6 40 millions ef acres. It 
cost Great Britain, during that war, 257 millions. 
The United tutes is the greatest commercial coun- 
try in ths world, except Great Britain. 

The present 'population of the different States of 
Europe, and thr United Slates of North 
America ; ivith the number of square miles iii 
each. 

France — 37 millions, 25 thousand square miles. 

Russia — 36 millions, three thousand five hundred 
square miles. 

Austria — about 20 millions, 200 thousand square 
miles. 

Turkey — 24 millions, 970 thousand square miles. 

British Dominions in Europe, including England, 
Ireland, Scotland and Wales, 15 millions, 100 thou- 
sand square miles ; jusr one half the number of 
square miles in the United States. 

Spain — 1 1 millions, 150 thousand square miles. 

Prussia — 8 millions, 80 thousand square miles. 

Sweden — 3 millions, 200 thousand square miles, 

Denmark — 2 millions, 160 thousand square miles. 

Batavia, or Holland, 3 millions, 19 thousand 
square miles. 

Helvetia, or Switzerland, 2 millions, 15 thou- 
sand square miles. 

Portugal — 2 millions, 27 thousand square miles. 

Italy, a few years since, contained 16 millions. 

The Four Qmrters of the World. 

Asia — 550 millions, 1 1 millions square miles. 
Africa — 45 millions, 10 millions square miles. 
Europe — 160 millions, 2 millions 600 thousand 
square miles. 

America — 20 millions, 16 millions square mile? 



13 

The four quarters of the wfcrld contain 900 mil- 
lions of inhabitants ; and 39 millions 600 thousand 
square miles. From which it appears, that America 
contains more than one third of the square miles on 
the face of the earth. 

The present annual income of Great Britain, is 
said to amount to 30 millions pounds sterling ; 133 
millions, 333 thousand, 333 hundred, 33-000 dol- 
lars. 

The following estimate of the population of 
the colonies of North America, in 1753 — ori- 
ginally given by Dr. Franklin, may gratify 
the curious, by perceiving the immense increase 
of population in this country- in sixty-one 
years. 



New-Hampshire, 


- 


30,00© 


Massachusetts, 


- 


220,000 


Rhode-Island, 


- 


35.000 


Connecticut, 


- 


100,000 


New-York, 


- 


100,000 


New- Jersey, 


- 


C0,000 


Pennsylvania 8c > 
Delaware, > 


- 


250,000 


Maryland, 


* 


85,000 


Virginia, 


- 


85,000 


North-Carolina, 


- 


45,000 


South-Carolina, 


- 


30,000 


Georgia, 


tal, 


6,000 


To 


1,046,060 


Canada, 


„ 


45,000 


Louisiana, 


- 


7,000 


Nova-Scotia, 




5,000 




57,000 



•fi 



Remarks on tite Human Species. 

According to some writers, there are six varieties 
of men. The first, they say, is found under the 
polar circles* among whom are the Tartars, the 
Laplanders, the Greenlanders, the inhabitants of 
Nova Zembla, &c. 

The visage of the people here, is a broad nose,* 
somewhat flat ; the ey:s of a yellowish cast, and the 
skin of a dark grey colour ; their stature is short, 
being generally about four feet high : they are 
grossly ignorant and superstitious. 

2- 'The Chinese, and the inhabitants of Japan, in 
Asia, form the next variety of the human specie?. 
Their countenances are broad and wrinkled, their 
nose flat and large, their complexion of a yellowish 
cast, and their hair very black. 

3. The third variety is that of the inhabitants of 
India. These are of a slender make, with long 
black hair, like the American Indians ; but not so 
brave and hardy as the Aborigines of this country : 
they are said to be of an indolent and cowardly dis- 
position ; the fatal concomitants of the despotic 
governments under which they have lived for many 
ages, 

4. The Africans make the fourth variety of cur 
species. Their woolly heads, their white teeth, and 
other peculiarities, it is needless to describe. Not- 
withstanding the ill-founded sarcasms that have 
been advanced relative to the inferiority of the 
Africans or blacks, (by some persons interested 
perhaps in the nefarious traffic of their fellow men) 
whatever the mental fioivers of the Africans maybe 
in the scorching regions of the Torrid Zone, (and I 
doubt not they ure equal to those of the whites when 
in a barbarous state three thousand years ago) 
those among us, of that race, I am sure form an 
exception ; being convinced, from observance per- 
sonal acquaintance, that maBy of them possess a 



id 

sound understanding, a retentive memory, and nt> 
small share of wit and ingenuity. 

It is earnestly to be wished, that those of that 
long oppressed race, who inhabit free and happy 
Columbia, may ere long enjoy all the natural rights 
of man. 

For Paul, by inspiration taught, once said, 
" That of one blood, God all the nations made ;" 
And, the great worthies of Columbia too, 
Avow'd man's sacred rights, whate'er their hue ; 
And O ! ye rulers of Columbia now, 
Can ye those noble maxims disavow — 
Ileason, Religion, humanity withal, 
Do for your strong and just exertions call, 
To set the wretched sons of Afric free, 
And let them share the sweets of Liberty ,^- 
By such a deed you'll gain a lasting fume, 
Thousands of Africans will bjess your name. 
In free America, for Liberty renown'd, 
. Let not the name of slave be ever found. 

The Indians, or Aborigines of America, are said 
to constitute the fifth variety of the human race. 

The Europeans form the sixth variety of the 
human species. The British, the Irish, and the 
descendants of Europeans, who inhabit North 
America, are allowed to be the fairest people upon 
earth. 

Remarks relative to Ireland. 

1. The established religion of Ireland, is the 
same with that of England ; though four fifths of 
the people are Catholics s — there are, however, be- 
sides, a number of Presbyterians, Baptists and Me- 
thodists, all of whom are tolerated. 

2. It is greatly to be lamented, that the sacred 
cause of religion in any country (as has been the 
case in Ireland) should be alluded to, for any other 
purpose than the furtherance of piety, virtue; ani 



the dissemination amongst men, of those duties 
which they owe to their fellow creatures. 

:i. The present number of inhabitants in Ireland, 
is said to be four millions. 

4 According to Bishop Elfihins ton's History, it 
appears, that Fergus, a native of Ireland was the 
first king of Scotland ; who was crowned 330 years 
before the incarnation of our Saviour. Fergus^ 
hating totally defeated Coitus, the king of the Bri- 
tons, on the banks of the River Don ; the southern 
and eastern parts of Scotland, were called Coil y or 
Kyle, which name the inhabitants of those parts still 
retain, in the Earle tongue. The Highlanders are 
called (lad. 

5. Irish Hosfiitality . The following account of 
Irish hospitality is taken from a celebrated writer. 
*• The hospitality of other countries is a matter of 
necessity or convenience ; in savage nations, of the 
first, of polished, of the latter. The hospitality of 
an Irishman, is not the running accounts of Posted 
and Legered courtesies, as in other countries ; it 
springs, like all his qualities, his virtues, his faults, 
from his heart. The heart of an Irishman, is by na- 
ture bold, and he confides ; is tender, and he loves ; 
is generous, and he gives ; social, and he is hospi- 
table " 

N. B. A comprehensive History of Ireland, will 
be found in Chapter II. of this book. 

EULOGITJM ON M VSONRY, 

Delivered in mount moriah lodge, St. John's Hall) 
on Wednesday Evening, A'ov. 16,5808. By Bro- 
ther John Crookfs. As an Exordium, to a 
Course of Lectures on the sublime Principles of 
the Institution. 

Worshipful Master and Brethren — 1 Have pre- 
pared to fulfil the wishes of the Lodge, as express- 
ed in its resolution at our lust meeting, to deliver an 
Exordium to a course of Lectures on the sublime 



17 

purpose than the furtherance of Piety, Virtue, and 
principles of Masonry. Much as I sincerely ap- 
prove of this method of " applying our hearts unto 
wisdom," I have to lament that the choice of the 
Lodge was not directed towards a member more skill- 
ed in the mysteries of our order, and more competent 
to point out their excellence and utility- I, there- 
fore, proceed to this new task with diffidence ; but 
with a diffidence lessened in some degree by the as- 
surance that you will hear me with candour, and re- 
gard my imperfections with indulgence. 

Of all human institutions with which History or 
our own experience has made us acquainted, MA- 
SONRY holds, and will ever hold, the most distin- 
guished pre-eminence. I ought, perhaps, to apolo^ 
gise to you for calling it a human institution, because 
it pre-supposes a time when Masonry began to be : 
but since wherever the most perfect order, symme- 
try, harmony and beauty appeared, these were the 
attributes of Masonry, it will be no fanciful supposi- 
tion to say that it has no origin, but is coeval with 
God himself. It is, consequently, divine. And, as 
it is compounded of principles which are in their 
own nature immutable and eternal, it must continue 
to exist for ever. It is, therefore, venerable from 
its antiquity, but not from its antiquity alone. Were 
it so, the veneration we shoul d pay to it on this ac- 
count might degenerate into the same species of 
blind homage which we sometimes involuntarily 
offer to hoary headed Error. 

If its antiquity has a great claim upon our regard, 
how much is that regard increased on the recollec- 
tion that our fraternity has been honoured with the 
brotherhood of David, Solemon, Hiram, and a host 
of worthies, whose names are recorded in the sacred 
volume, and are familiar to most of us ; that it has 
in all ages, and in all countries, wherever Science 
has made any progress, received the sanction of 
kings, princes, and divines, of « the most excellent 
of the earth ;'* and that in our day, and in our own 
s 



IS 

beloved land, it could boast of having a Chief Offi- 
cer, whose name (high and exalted) can never be 
pronounced in the United States but with reverence, 
whose memory will be precious to the end of time, 
\nd whose single approval would outweigh a whole 
world's disapprobation ! You will anticipate me as 
o the distinguished character to whom I allude, 
k'our own hearts will instinctively inform you that 
t can be no other than that " Corinthian pillar in the 
temple of immortality," the illustrious leader of our 
revolutionary armies. 

With such men for its admirers, and passing 
through such hands from one generation to another, 
it can hardly be a matter of wonder that Masonry 
should have descended to us in its primitive purity ; 
or that amidst so many astonishing revolutions in 
the states and empires of the earth — amidst the 
" Havoc, and Spoil, and Ruin," which the mad am- 
bition of men has produced in every age and in 
every clime — our order should have received the 
special protection of Heaven I 

Having glanced at some of its extrinsic excellen- 
cies, I shall now take a brief view of those inherent 
qualities of Masonry which have procured for it so 
honorable a distinction. 

The increase of useful knowledge ; the worship 
of one eternal Great First Cause of ajl things,, and 
the admiration of his attributes which is excited by 
the contemplation of his works ; the exercise of be- 
nevolence towards a distressed brother ; and the 
practice of every moral and social virtue, are among 
the primary objects of our institution. We are in- 
structed to value more than life the sacred obliga- 
tions of Honour, Probity, Truth, Friendship, Hos- 
piulity, and all those charities which bind man to 
man ; and to adorn, by our public and private con- 
duct, the dignity of our profession. 

It is one beautiful feature of Masonry, and one 
which is peculiar to itself, .that whilst it speaks, by 
signs well understood, an universal language, it 



19 

unites in the same bond of brotherly affection the 
native of Europe, of Asia, of Africa, and America ; 
it dissolves, as into one mass, all religious and po- 
litical prejudices, whether of education or of habit ; 
and acknowledges no other distinction than vice or 
virtue, good or evil. Indeed all the worst passions 
of men, which the intemperate discussion of those 
otherwise important subjects is calculate »! to arouse, 
seem to be hushed to rest in a Lodge of Free Ma- 
sons, and the reflecting mind contemplates with de- 
light a scene of perfect harmony unequalled in any 
other association upon earth. 

Men unacquainted with our mysteries are apt to 
imagine we have nothing to conceal ; and will fre- 
quently contend that the whole of Masonry consists 
in conviviality, and in ceremonies at once trifling 
and superficial. Our secrecy, of itself, is a virtue ; 
and our ceremonies, as every brother well knows 
who has paid them the attention they deserve, are 
not oniy useful but necessary. Every sign we 
make, every implement we use in our labour, every 
object we view in the Lodge, inculcates some moral 
lesson, and presents to our mind's eye some error 
to be avoided or some duty to be performed. 
When we advert to their origin we perceive clearly 
how insensibly our mysteries would sink into disre- 
gard if they should cease to be mysterious, we dwell 
with pleasure upon the ideas they convey through 
the senses to the soul, and we learn to estimate 
their value only from their propriety and use- 
fulness> 

It has been judiciously remarked, by an able wri- 
ter on this subject, that " the application of sensible, 
objects to a figurative use is amusing as well as in- 
structive ; and the imagination, the most ungovern- 
able of all the human faculties, is made subservient 
to the cause of virtue, and instrumental to moral im- 
provement. For that, by easy and apposite sym- 
bols, we learn the difference between physical and 
moral good ; to judge of the Creator by the works 



20 

of his creation ; and to infer from thence, that our 
wise Master-Builder, who has planned and com- 
pleted a habitation so suitable to our wants, so con- 
venient to our temporary residence here, has ex- 
ercised still more Wisdom in contriving, more 
Strength in supporting, and more Beauty in adorn- 
ing, those eternal mansions where he has promised 
to receive and reward all faithful Masons here- 
after." 

" Thus our Faith and Hope are exercised by the 
study of Masonry ; but there is a virtue which Di- 
vine Authority has pronounced greater than Faith 
and Hope, and to this excellent virtue of Charity 
are our Masonic Labours more especially directed:" 
to visit the sick and the fatherless in their affliction, 
to comfort those that mourn, to weep with those 
that weep, and to carry as it were into the dungeons 
of human misery the Divine Essence of Masonry, 
by acting as a Ministering Angel of Consolation and 
of Mercy, the Representative of Heaven. 

These are our professions in the Lodge ; but do 
they regulate cur conduct out of it, in our com- 
merce with the world ? In what, brethren, would 
Freemasonry excel, if it had no influence upon our 
general deportment i It is only by acting upon the 
square, and living within the compass — by prac- 
tising the duties of morality, and limiting our de- 
sires — that we can demonstrate to the ignorant and 
the prejudiced the well founded superiority of our 
pretensions. It our oroer be built upon the basis 
of Brotherly Love, of Truth, of Temperance, of 
Prudence, and ©f Justice, Jet us be careful " to walk 
worthy of the high vocation wherewith we are 
called." Besides, 

" The Soul's calm sunshine, and the heartfelt Joy," 
arising from a conduct so regulated, how consola- 
tory will be the assurance, that when our sun of life 
(which may have risen brilliantly from the East) 
shall set in the West — when we shall be called 
from labour to everlasting refreshment-- we have in 



21 

reserve a seat at the right hand of the Almighty 
Grand Master ; and that " when the earthly house 
of this tabernacle shall be dissolved, we have a build- 
ing of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in 
the heavens I" 

OX BENEVOLENCE, 

BY BROTHER D. FRASER' 

Come, sweet Benevolence, celestial maid ; 
Come, rob'd m purity, in smiles array'd ; 
Expand our hearts, that we may all, like thee, 
Pursue the dictates of Humanity : 
Inspire us to infold in one embrace 
The various kindred of the human race ! 
And though our hearts no vile distinctions know, 
But vibrate strong to ev'ry chord of woe ; 
Yet when we hear a Brother Mason's sighs, 
They claim an extra tear from Mason's eyes ; 
Nor can our partial bounty be arraign'd 
Should we prefer a Brother to a friend. 

Ilemarks relative to England, &c. 

1. For five hundred years Britain continued a Ro- 
man province ; when by the decline and fall of the 
Roman Empire, it again recovered its liberty. 

2. In the reign of Henry 4th 1399, an act passed 
for burning the followers of Wicklijfe, a secular 
priest educated at Oxford, who. during the reigns 
of Edward 3rd and Richard the 2d had preached 
the doctrine of reformation. 

3. In the reign of James the 1st (who was James 
the sixth king of Scotland) the gun-powder plot took 
place ; which excited universal horror and astonish- 
ment. This horrible treason or plot, was attempted 
by Cobh%m and Raleigh ; their object was, the de- 
struction of the King and. Parliament— This dread- 
ful scheme was happily detected, and thv authors of 
it punished. 



4. George the 1st son of Ernest Augustus, first 
Elector of Brunswick, and Sofihia, grand daughter 
to James the first, pursuant to the act of settlement, 
succeeded to the crown, on the death of Queen Anne, 
A. D. 1714. He died in 1720. 

5. George the 2d his son, ascended the throne — 
At this period Great Britain was in a highly flourish- 
ing condition ; and had a great influence in all the 
courts of Europe, Spain excepted. 

In this reign, a rebellion (as it was termed) broke 
out in Scotland, in 1745. Charles Stuart, the young 
Pretender (some think the righful heir to the crown) 
being encouraged by many of the principal fami- 
lies in Scotland to land there, was received with 
open arms, his father proclaimed king of Great Brit- 
ain, and himself prince regent. Many persons of the 
first distinction embraced his cause. But the deci- 
sive battle of Culloden (won by treachery) fought 
near Inverness in 1746, put a period to the contest 
for the British crown — and Charles, after suffering 
extreme hardships, escaped to France George the 
2d died the 25th of October, 1760, in the 77th year 
of his age and the 34th of his reign. 

6. George the 3rd succeeded his grandfather, 
(Frederick Augustus, his father, having died while 
Prince of Wales) in 1760, in the 23d year of his age. 
He came to the crown certainly the most powerful 
monarch then in Europe; 

7. In 1776, the colonies in North America de- 
clared themselves independent of Great Britain, on 
the 4th of July. This circumstance involved En- 
gland in a new war. France, Spain and Holland, 
joined the Americans. A general peace was con- 
cluded in 1783. 

8. In the year 1793, England engaged in another 
war with France. During this contest, the British 
were not very successful in their battles by land, 
but their navai victories were highly splendid. The 
principal of them were, that of Lord Howe over the 
French fleet; on the first of June 1794* that over 



23 

the Spaniards, by Sir John Jarvis, on the 1 4th of Fe- 
bruary 1797 ; another in the same year by Admiral 
Duncan, over the Dutch, October 11, and the total 
defeat of the French fleet in the NJle, by Admiral 
Nelson, on the 1st of August 1798. On the 21st of 
October 1805, the British fleet consisting of 27 sail 
of the line and 4 frigates, under the command of Ad- 
miral Nelson, engaged the combined fleets of France 
and Spain, off Trafalgar, near Cadiz, consisting of 33 
sail of the line and 4 frigates ; after a desperate con- 
flict of four hours, 19 of the combined fleet struck 
their colours, and a French 74 was blown up. In 
this memorable engagement, the gallant Admiral 
Nelson lost his life, by a ball in his left breast. From 
these victories, nearly the whole of tfce French, 
Dutch and Spanish marine, fell into the hands of the 
British. 

9. Of the English constitution, as it stands at this 
time : — The legislative power resides in parliament, 
and ((the constituent parts of parliament are king, 
lords and commons. Each house has a negative on 
the other, and the king on both. The executive 
power of government is lodged in the crown. The 
king is the chief magistrate— -the chief of all courts 
of judicature — the fountain of honor — superinten- 
dant of commerce — head of the church — command- 
er in chief of the land and sea forces — arbiter of 
peace and war — and responsible to no judicature. 
These powers of the crown are thus limited and re- 
stra. >ed. The king is dependent on parliament for 
all su sidies — the parliament must be assembled 
once in hree years— The king cannot alter the es- 
tablished "eligion — he cannot interfere with the 
courts of jv feature in the administration of. justice, 
cannot alter the standard of money ; cannot raise 
land forces without the consent of parliament. The 
king's ministers are responsible for all public mea- 
sures. Freedom of debate in parliament cannot bs 
.questioned. 



2i 



10. George Ut reigned 6 years,- 

Do. ftid do. 40 

Do. 3rd do. 54 

Thus the dynasty of the Guelphs has swayed the 
British sceptre one hundred years, including the 
present year. 

1 I. Bank of England. — Its capital and specie de- 
posits are said to amount to 18,000,000 pound ster- 
ling. Its notes in general circulation 12,000,000 
sterling, amounting to 133,333,333 7-9 dollars. 

12. The English barons resented king John's ty- 
ranny and baseness, had recourse to arms, and ex- 
torted from Mm Magna Charta ; which was sign- 
ed at RuJtiiymcde, between Windsor and Stains, A. 
D. 1215; a place ever deservedly held dear and ce- 
lebrated by every lover of liberty. 

13. The English are a brave and opulent people, 
and for commercial enterprize, manufactures and 
agriculture, are excelled by no nation in Europe ; 
(the Americans now tread fast upon their heels), 
they are fond of roast beef and porter, and think that 
no country is equal to Old England ! 

14. The length of England is 360 miles ; breadth 
300. It may be gratifying to the curious to know, 
that England is only ten miles longer than the state 
of New-York and the same breadth; and that Ire- 
land is just ten miles longer than Scotland and the 
same breadth. 

15. The population of England is 8,614,284 

Do. Wales is 541,546 



Total 9,155,830 
The parliament of Great Britain and Ireland con- 
sists ©f 658 members 
England sends 489 
Wales 24 
Scotland 45 
Ireland 100 



658 



rZB 



16. The following- estimate of the annual value of 
some of the principal manufactures hi England* 
and of the number of persons employed in them, h 
chiefly taken from official returns. 



Annual value. 


Persons ern 


Woollens 


16,400,000 


440,340 


Cotton 


10,000,000 


347,271 


Leather 


10,500,000 


241,818 


Iron, Tin & Lead 


10,000,000 


200,000 


Steel plating, kc. 


4,000,000 


70,000 


Copper and brass 


3,600,000 


60,000 


Linen and flax 


3,000,000 


95,000 


Silk 


2,700,000 


65,000 


Hemp 


1,600,000 


35,000 


Potteries 


2,000,000 


45,000 


Glass 


1,500,000 


36,000 


Paper 


900,000 


30,000 




66,200,000 


1,665,429 



The annual value of other manufactures of less im- 
portance, is estimated at four or five millions, and 
the number of persons employed in them, is one 
hundred thousand. The public revenue of England 
was in the year \ 100, three hundred thousand pounds 
sterling ; during the three following centuries, one 
hundred thousand pounds; in 1500, four hundred 
thousand pounds; in 1600, five hundred thousand 
pounds; in 1700, four millions ; and in 180Q, thir- 
ty millions. 

Remarks relative to Scotland. 

1 . One of the most surprizing objects of curiosi- 
ty in Scotland, is the vast basalta of the isJe of Staffia, 
called now inn gal's Cave. The entrance of the cave 
is fifty-si;, feet in height, and thirty-five in breadth; 
the whole length or depth is one hundred and forty 



26 

feet. It is supported on each siuc oy beautiful col- 
umns, disposed in the most exact order, and in form 
resembling the most regular pillars of architecture. 

2. Scotland abounds with all kinds of scale and 
shell fish ; on the northern and western coasts are 
numerous seals (or sea dogs), and it appears from 
the life of St. Columba, that the ancients had a me- 
thod of rendering these amphibious animals tame 
and obedient to call ! 

Herrings appear off the coast of Shetland in in- 
numerable columns in the month of June, altering 
the very appearance of the ocean, which ripples like 
a current. The columns have been computed to ex- 
tend five or six miles in length, by three or four in 
breadth. They afterwards divide to the east and 
west of Great Britain, furnishing a providential sup- 
ply of food to many sterile districts : How bountiful 
is cur beneficent Creator ! May our hearts ever vi- 
brate with fervent gratitude to so good a benefactor. 

3. Since the revolution of 1688, the ecclesiastical 
government of Scotland is of the Presbyterian form. 
In general the present clergy merit the greatest 
praise, as men of enlightened minds and moderate 
conduct. 

4. The Scottish language in the lowlands is Sax- 
on, blended with the ancient Scandinavian. In the 
highlands the Gaelic or Erse, a dialect of the Celtic. 

5. The shrewdness, cunning and selfishness im- 
puted to the people of Scotland, give merely the un- 
favorable aspect of that sagacity which enables them 
to discover their own interest, to extricate them- 
selves from diRiculty, and to act upon every occur- 
rence with decision, prudence and enterprise. 

The national spirit of Scotchmen has been often 
taken notice of. in so much, indeed, that they are all 
supposed in a confederacy to extol and aid one ano- 
ther. 

It may be justly remarked, that, as candidates for 
fame or fortune in the London mavket, they are great- 
ly the minority; hence it is not at all surprising. 



27 

that in such a situation they should feel a common 
bond of union, and act in concert, like travellers in a 
hostile country. 

6. Kenneth 2d about the middle of the ninth cen- 
tury, who was the 70th king of Scotland, completely 
subdued the Picts, who inhabited the plums, and 
united into one monarchy the whole country, when 
his kingdom became known by the name of Scotland 
instead of Caledonia. 

7. Edward 1 st of England, attempted to conquer 
Scotland, in 1 305 ; but his design was frustrated by 
Sir William Wallace, who nobly took up arms in 
defence of the freedom of his native country. 

This gallant patriot, like the immortal Cincinna- 
tus and Washington, retired to his farm, after secur- 
ing the freedom of his cotintry. 

8. In the reign of Queen Anne, in 1 707, the king- 
doms of England and Scotland were united under the 
name of Great Britain. 

9. Length of Scotland, 270 miles, breadth 160, 
number pf inhabitants 1,607,760. 

A succinct historv of Scotland in chapter 4th of 
this work. 



28 

CHAPTER II. 
IRELAND. 

Ireland, called also Hibernia and Erin, is situated 
to the west of Great Britain ; and for salubrity of air, 
fertility of soil, hospitality and intrepidity of its in- 
habitants is excelled by no country on earth. 

The pride of ancestry has a peculiar effect upon 
the Irish. No nation, in fact, now in existence, can 
boast of such certain and remote antiquity. It has 
been a mean and pitiful prejudice of writers, to en- 
deavour to throw discredit upon the early parts of 
the Irish history. That many fabulous accounts are 
to be met with in the Irish annals, is undoubtedly 
true ; but the possession at this present hour of a 
vernacular language, which was in general use above 
three thousand years ago, is a strong corroboration 
of their ancient descent, that the people of Ireland 
can singly boast among all the nations of the universe. 

There appears no reason to doubt that the ances- 
tors of the Irish were Scythians ; or as they were af- 
terwards called, Phoenicians. That the Carthagi- 
nians were a Phoenician colony, has never been 
doubted, and like other colonies they carried their 
language with them. 

Besides the common use of the Phoenician lan- 
guage by the native Irish, there are other proofs, 
which make it no longer doubtful that a Phoenician 
colony settled in Ireland. The warlike instruments 
which have been found in Ireland exactly resemble 
the weapons discovered about Cannae, some of which 
are in the British Museum : the brazen swords and 
spears are the same form and substance, being a 
composition of brass and tin. Proofs of the simi- 



m 

larity of habit, manners, and customs, between the 
colony and the mother country, might be adduced 
from the historians of each. Suffice it however to 
remark, that to this day the Irish peasants have an 
annual custom of lighting upon certain hills, on the 
eve of midsummer, what they still call Bel's fire, 
though totally ignorant that Bel was the God of their 
Phoenician ancestors. ... 

All historians agree that hordes of Scythians emi- 
grated to Egypt, and from thence to Spain ;,and 
there has been no one objection of airy force brought 
against the Irish annalists, who are unanimous in 
their assertions that a colony of these Scythians 
from Spain settled in Ireland. The Irish have a!v 
ways prided themselves, upon having kept up a lon- 
ger succession of monarchs than any other kingdom 
in the world. This race of kings they call Mile- 
sian, all of them having descended from Heber, 
Eremore, and Ith, the three sons of Milesius, who 
headed the expedition from Spain* 

It is certain that Ireland was colonized by a civi- 
lized, a learned,- and warlike people, nearly one 
thousand years before the birth of Christ : and that 
during that period they were characterized by their 
robust frame of body, by their valour, by their pride 
of ancestry, by the strength of their imagination, 
and their enthusiastic love of glory. 

The obscurity, however, of this period endec)[ 
with the introduction of Christianity ; when a new 
set of historians or annalists sprang up, new reposi- 
tories of learning were established, foreign connec* 
tions we're much extended, and the learned langua^ 
ges were brought into use. All respectable wri* 
ters ancient and modern agree, that the gospel was 
first preached in Ireland by St. Patrick, who was 
sent thither with twenty other missionaries by Ce<> 
lestine bishop of Rome, in the first century of the 
Christian aera. Whether the facility with which 
the divine doctrines of the missionaries were propa» 
gated was, as Some assert, in a gjreat degree owing 



3© 

to the superior state of letters and other civil culti- 
vation in Ireland, is now difficult to determine. 
The fact however is certain, that in no land did the 
Gospel make such rapid progress, or was so slightly 
opposed at is first introduction : and it is remarka- 
ble that within the shcrt space of five years after 
St. Patrick opened his mission, he was summoned 
to sit and assist in the convention or parliament of 
Tarah. He was appointed one of the famous commit- 
tee of Nine, to whom was entrusted the reform of 
the ancient civil history of the nation, so as to ren« 
der it instructive to posterity. Christian schools 
euq seminaries were established in opposition to 
those of the Druids ; and Paganism declined in pro- 
portion as the institutions and doctrines of Chris- 
tianity flourished ; insomuch that from the fifth to 
the latter end of the ninth century the Irish nation 
was pre-eminently distinguished in Europe as the 
chief seat of literature and science. Venerable 
Bede not only confirms this fact, but states, that the 
youth of the most respectable families of every na- 
tion in Europe were sent to Ireland to receive their 
education, on account of the pre-excellence of the 
learning of the Irish clergy. The same writer adds, 
that such of the Anglo Saxons as went over to Ire- 
land, either for education, improvement, or for an 
opportunity of living tip to the strict ascetic disci.- 
pline, were maintained, taught and furnished with 
books, without fee or reward. Several illustrious 
persons received their education there. Among the 
other virtues which the establishment of Christian- 
ity fostered and extended among the Irish, the gen- 
erous spirit of hospitality, for which from the earliest 
periods they were characterised, was peculiarly en- 
forced. « The most holy men of heaven," say the 
Irish laws/ " were remarkable for hospitality ; and 
the gospel commands us to receive the sojourner, 
to entertain him, and to relieve his wants." We 
have thus seen that the Irish were a people endow- 
ed fith g£eai powejs. of body and mipdj lovers cf 



31 

the arts and sciences ; and enthusiastic eiieourageo 
of talents, attached to religion' and its ministers, and 
in a word, super-eminently gifted by nature with all 
those active principles of public virtue, which, if 
properly directed, insure the attainment of national 
happiness, prosperity, and importance. But unfor- 
tunately it has ever been the bane of Ireland to be 
distracted with civil discord. 

The latter part of the Irish history, immediately 
preceding the invasion of the kingdom by the En- 
glish, presents one continued scene of intestine dis- 
tention, turbulence and faction. They experienced 
during several centuries, the miserable effects re- 
sulting from their want of union among themselves^ 
in the success of the repeated formidable invasions 
of their island by the Danes, Norwegians, and other 
Scandinavian adventurers, who roved about in search 
of settlements. Ireland became to these piraticai 
hordes a most inviting object, as the country was 
fertile, and the inhabitants by their intestine divi* 
sions rendered feeble defenders of their soil. Such 
was the situation of Ireland, with little variation of 
feature in its history, during a period of nearly four 
hundred years. About the year of Christ 1 1 66, 
Roderick O'Connor, of undoubted Milesian stock, 
was raised to the monarchy, with the general con- 
sent of the nation. His prospect of a happy reign 
was soon clouded by the revolt of several petty kings 
and princes who had sworn allegiance to him. 

Scarcely had he reduced them to obedience, when 
he was called upon by O'Rourke, king of Breffny, 
to assist him in avenging himself of Dermod, king 
of Leinster, by whom he had been grossly injuredC 
While O'Rourke was absent on a pilgrimage, his 
wife, who had long conceived a criminal passion for 
the king of Leinster, eloped with him, and lived in 
public adultery. There could not have existed a 
greater excitement to revenge in the breast of an 
Irish prince, whose spotless purity of blood was 
their highest glory. O'Rourke succeeded in reus- 



3% 

ing the monarch t© avenge his cause, and immecli* 
ately led a powerful force to his assistance. The 
whole kingdom took fire at the perfidy and iniquity 
of Dermod,, who looked in vain for support from 
his own subjects. He was hated for his tyranny ; 
and the chieftains of Leinster not only refused to en- 
list under his banner in such a cause, but openly re- 
nounced their allegiance. Dermod, thus deserted 
by his subjects, was inflamed with rage at the dis- 
appointment, and resolved to sacrifice every thing 
to the gratification of his personal revenge. Una- 
ble to meet the approaching storm, he took shipping 
secretly, and repaired to Henry II. of England, who 
was then in France, to solicit his protection and aid 
in accomplishing his revengeful intention. 

Dermod made a most humiliating address, and 
canting hypocritical representation of his sufferings^ 
to Henry, whom he found at Aquitaine ; promising 
that if through his-powerful interposition he should 
recover his lost dominions, he would hold them in 
vassalage of Henry and his successors forever. 
Such an offer accorded well with the ambitious 
views of this monarch ; but his situation at that time 
prevented him from engaging personally in the cause 
of the guilty fugitive. He, however, encouraged 
him by promises of vigorous support, and gave him 
letters of credit and service to such of his subjects 
as might be willing to assist him in the recovery of 
his dominions. With these credentials Dermod re- 
paired to Bristol, which was in those days the chief 
port of communication between England and Ireland. 

Invasion and Conquest of Ireland, under Hen- 
ry II. in 1172. 

That Henry had conceived the design of invading 
Ireland previously to the degrading application of 
Dermod, is unquestionable. A very superficial 
knowledge of the state of Ireland at that period was 



35 

sufficient to excite the ambition of a powerful and 
popular sovereign, in those days, when it was deem- 
ed reproachful to a prince to be unemployed in some 
scheme of gallant enterprize. 

A pretence alone was wanting to give some co- 
lour of justice to the design ; and the courtiers of 
Henry were fertile in their invention of imaginary 
claims to the throne of Ireland, which they asserted 
the kings of England possessed by inheritance from, 
the time of Arthur, or even earlier. 

At the period, however, of Dermod's application, 
Henry was engaged in suppressing the insurrec- 
tion of his brother Geoffry, and in supporting his 
own claims to Anjou. He had sufficient employ- 
ment for his abilities in regulating his own affairs in 
England. The unsettled state of Wales at this pe- 
riod, and the long and painful contest which Henry 
maintained against Thomas Becket and the church, 
were additional motives to induce the ambitious mo- 
narch to suspend the execution of his designs against 
Ireland, which would probably never have been put 
in execution, had not accident, or rather the factions 
and competitions of an unorganised people, opened 
a way for the English arms to penetrate and subdue 
their distracted country. Henry, though invested 
with papal authority for the purpose, would perhaps 
never have invaded Ireland, had not the intestine 
broils of the Irish princes, or kings, as they were 
termed, severed those resources which ought to 
have been united for defence, and driven Dermod to 
invite that interference of a foreign power, which 
ever is, and must be fatal t© the liberties and inde- 
pendence of a nation. 

Such was the situation of Ireland, when Dermod 
proffered at the feet of the English monarch to hold 
his dominions in vassalage of him, and acknowledge 
him his liege lord, if by his means he should him- 
self be reinstated in them. This flattering petition 
awakened the slumbering hopes of Henry, and re- 



Si 

vived the pleasing ideas which he had formerly con- 
ceived of conquering Ireland. 

His own immediate affairs were, however, still 
much perplexed. Becket had then recently afford- 
ed him a further proof of his violence and obstinacy, 
while the insurrection of his subjects in the provin- 
ces of France, secretly fomented by Lewis, engaged 
him incessantly in war and negociation. It was 
therefore his obvious policy to act as he did, and to 
receive the proffered allegiance of the Irish prince 
in a gracious manner, to give him every encourage- 
ment and assurance short of his personal appearance 
in his cause, and to grant him those letters of li- 
cence and credence to his subjects in England, who 
might be willing to adventure on an expedition 
against Ireland, under the banners of king Dermod. 
The fugitive prince, highly elated with his reception, 
repaired from Aquitaine to England, and upon his 
arrival at Bristol made public the letters of Henry, 
repeated his piteous story, and lavished promises 
upon all who would aid the friend and vassal of their 
sovereign. The cause or character of Dermod, must 
doubtless, have obtained a bad report in England, 
or such was the spirit of enterprise and adventure 
in these days, the days of the crusades, that but for 
such a reason, it may be presumed multitudes would 
have flocked to his standard, whereas not one indi- 
vidual was found to listen to his flattering promises, 
or to take arms in his cause. 

A month elapsed without any prospect of obtain- 
ing succours, and Dermod began to abandon all 
hopes of restoration, when he was persuaded to ad* 
dress himself to Richard, earl of Pembroke, sur- 
named Strongbow, on account of his skill in archery. 
Richard was distinguished by his military genius as 
"much as by his station and alliances : he was attend- 
ed by a powerful train of followers, whose affection 
&e had gained by his courtesy and generosity ; but 
feeing estranged from the n>yal favour, and retired 
and unemployed} his fortune cHs&ipated. his distress*- 



35 

es urgent, and his prospects gloomy, he was pointed 
out to Dermod as likely to comply with his over- 
tures, and the Irish prince accordingly pressed him 
with the most urgent solicitations. He even engag- 
ed to give him his daughter Eva in marriage, and 
to make him heir of his kingdom, though sensible 
by the ancient customs of his country he had no 
power to nominate his heirs. Richard was over- 
come by these seducing offers, and agreed to as- 
sist Dermod with a considerable force in the ensuing 
.spring, provided he could obtain the king's particu- 
lar licence and approbation. 

Elevated by the success of this negociation, Der- 
mod conceived that he had already most effectually 
.provided for his restoration ; and proceeded to St. 
David's, in South Wales, intending to return pri- 
vately to Ireland. In Wales he added to his adhe- 
rents, Robert Fitz-Stcphen, an active, brave, and 
skilful soldier, who consented to engage, with all 
his followers, in the service of Dermod, who on his 
part, promised to cede to Fitz-Stephen, and Mau- 
rice Fitzgerald, the entire dominion of the town of 
.Wexford, with a large adjoining territory, as soon 
as he should be reinstated in his rights. Such was 
the origin of an iavasion, which in the event proved 
•of so great importance: A criminal and despised 
fugitive, driven from his province by faction and re- 
venge, obtained in this manner the assistance of a 
few adventurers in Wales, whom youthful valour, 
.and ruined fortune, led to seek for advantageous set- 
tlements in Ireland. In the mean time Dermod 
.embarked in disguise for Ireland, where he landed 
in safety ; and, passing through the quarters of his 
enemies, spent the winter at the monastry at Ferns, 
which he himself had founded. Here he occupied 
himself in preparations for the intended invasion in 
the ensuing spring, when the promised succours 
v/<jTe to be seot from England. They did arrive, 
and, after various turns of fortune, Dermecl Vf&s re- 
instated in his ancient rights. 



36 

The British forces employed in this expedition 
have been variously stated ; but the largest number 
named is three thousand, including the adherents 
of Dermod, who joined them after landing. This 
force has been represented by some writers in such 
formidable colours as if nothing in Ireland could 
stand against it ; but experience has sufficiently 
evinced the incalculable advantages of discipline 
over strength and vakmr. The Irish nation did not 
in f*ct oppose this invasion ; but separate septs or 
families made each a separate resistance, and their 
divided efforts were of course of no avail. It is al- 
so well authenticated that several chiefs sent over 
deputies to invite Henry to Ireland ; the men of 
Wexford, O'Bryan of Thomond, and all the inferior 
chiefs of Munster, vied with each other in the ala- 
crity of their submission. Henry, jealous of the 
successful progress of his own subjects, sent orders 
to recall all the English, and made preparations to 
attack Ireland in person ( 1 1 72). He at length land- 
ed in that island t>t the head of five hundred knights 
besides other soldiers ; but so dispirited were the 
Irish, that in his progress he had nothing more to 
do than to receive the homage of his new subjects. 
He left most of the native princes in possession of 
their native territories, invested the earl of Pem- 
broke with the government of Ireland, and returned 
in triumph to England. Yet notwithstanding the 
apparent submission which the English monarch 
had received in all parts of Ireland, he had not by 
his expedition won one heart to his interest, or add- 
ed one true and loyal subject to the number of those 
whom he found there on his landing. 

The Irish chieftains waited only for a favourable 
opportunity of openly disavowing their submission , 
and when the earl of Pembroke retired into Fern9 
to solemnize the marriage of his daughter, they 
threw off all shew of allegiance to Henry, and bold- 
ly denounced vengeance against the invaders. 



3# 

To give an account of the succeeding periods of 
the History of Ireland, or to trace the origin and 
progress of the last unhappy occurrences in that 
country, does not comport with the brevity of our 
plan. 

JL concise account of the principal Towns 9 Riv~ 
ers, &c* in Ireland. 

Ireland is divided into four grand divisions, name- 
ly, Leinster, Ulster, Connaught and Munster ; and 
sub-divided into thirty-two counties, twelve of which 
are in Leinster. Dublin county, principal city Dub- 
lin, the metropolis of Ireland ; and is the largeat 
town in the British dominions, London excepted. 
It is said to contain upwards of two hundred thous- 
and inhabitants. And is situated nearly seven miles 
from the sea, at the foot of a spacious bay, on the 
jiver Liffey. 

Louth, chief $own Drogheda; Wicklow, chief 
town Wicklow ; Wexford, principal town Wex- 
ford ; Longford, chief town Longford ; East-Meath, 
chief town Trim ; West-Meath, most populous 
town Mullingar'; King's county, Philips-town is the 
principal ; Queen's county, chief town is Marybo- 
rough ; Kilkenny, principal town of the same name ; 
Kildare, chief town ISTaas ; and Carlow, most popu- 
lous town of the same name. ^ 

Ulster, coatains nine counties : Down, principal 
town Down Patrick ; Armagh, head town of same 
name ; Cavan, chief town of the same name ; An- 
trim, Carrick Fergus; Londonderry, chief town, 
Deny ; Tyrone, head town Omagh ; Fermanagh, 
head town Enniskillen, and Donegal principal town 
Lifford. 

Connaught has live counties, namely, Leitrim, 
chief town Carrick ; Roscommon, head town of the 
same iteme ; Mayo, chief towns C?istlebar and Bal- 
rode ; Sligo, head town bears the same name ; Gal- 
low, head town Galloway. 



m 

Munstcr, has six counties ; Clare, head town %&** 
ras ; Cork, principal town Cork. The city of Cc . k 
lies about one hundred and thirty miles south-wesl 
from Dublin, on the banks of the river Lee, and for 
population, wealth and commerce is reckoned the 
second in Ireland. The county of Kerry, head 
town Traiee; Limerick, chief town of 'the same 
name ; Tipperary, head town Clonmell ; Waterfoi d ? 
chief town of the same name. Waterford is a town 
of very considerable trade, and a place of great 
strength. Belfast, Limerick, and Londonderry, are 
handsome towns, and carry on a considerable trade. 
This country abounds with charming lakes, spacious 
bays and excellent harbours ;, the Shannon is the 
largestriverin Ireland, and runs a course of \5Q mtles> 
from its source, at Lough Allen, in Leitrim, till it 
falls into the atlantic ocean at Kerrypoint ; the other 
rivers here are the Boyne, the Liffey, the Ban, the, 
Barrow, the Wore and the Suir. 

The nobility and most wealhty class'of people m 
Ireland in their language, dress and manners cannot 
be said to. differ, but very little, if any, from those of 
the same rank in England. The poorer sort of peo- 
ple in Ireland differ something in their mode of liv- 
ing and customs from the lower class of people in 
England. 

Some writers have erroneously asserted, that the 
best informed people in Ireland always retain a disa- 
greeable tone in their pronunciation. This I know 
from personal observation, to be ill-founded, having 
conversed with gentlemen from that country who, 
in my humble opinion, pronounced the English lan- 
guage with great accuracy. Indeed, the author of 
the English standard of pronunciation, Mr. Sheridan, 
was an Irishman. I am not a native of Ireland, and 
therefore cannot justlv be supposed to be over par- 
tial to that nation ; yet I was sorry to meet with the 
following inviduous remark in a book which has, in 
a few veers, passed through thirteen editions in Eu- 



rope and America : " The common Irish, in their 
manner of living, seem to resemble the ancient Brit- 
ons, as described by Roman authors, or the present 
Indian inhabitants of America ! !" Hence, accord- 
Jng to this writer's opinion, the difference betwixt 
the higher and lower class of the f rish people, must 
be vastly great indeed ! SinGe, among the former, 
we find an archbishop, a Boyle, a dean Swift, an 
O'Leary, a Steele, a Sterne, a Parnel, a Goldsmith, a 
Berkley, a Grattan, a Montgomery, a Curran, an 
Emmet, &c. While the lower class of people in 
Ireland are represented to be no more refined at the 
present day, than the Britons were two thousand 
years ago, or the tawny sons of the Birdtail king 
among the Cherokees, or the Little Turkie's tribe 
among the Mohawks. And yet we are told by the 
learned Mr. Camden (who was not an Irishman) that 
* the Irish scholars of St Patrick profited so nobly 
in Christianity, that in the succeeding age, Ireland 
was termed sanctorum Patria. Theirmonks so great- 
ly excelled in piety and learning, that they sent a 
number of learned men into all parts of Europe, 
who were the founderso f Abbies in Italy, Switzer- 
land, France and Britain." Bede says, that about 
the middle of the seventeenth century, many nobles 
and others of the Anglo-Saxons, retired from their 
own country, and went to Ireland for instruction, and 
the Scots (as he styles the Irish) maintained them,, 
taught them, and furnished them with books gratis — 
" A most honorable testimony says Lord Lyttleton, 
not only of the learning but also of the ^qspita\ijy 
#1$ tyunty c;f the Irish nation." 



40 



CHAPTER Hi 

DEFENCE OF CHRISTIANITY; 

Introductory Remarks* 

It must certainly be satisfactory to the sincere 
Christian to perceive in the list of the friends of 
Christianity the names of the following distinguished 
characters ; all of whom are acknowledged to have 
been men of profound learning ; most of them 
possessed of superior genius, and ornaments of 
human nature . These worthy characters firmly ad-? 
hered to the belief of Christianity, after the most di- 
ligent and impartial researches into the life of its 
'Founder, the character of its original^ propagators. 
the completion of its prophecies, the verity of its 
iniracles, the sublimity of its doctrines, the purity 
and utility of its precepts, and the arguments of its 
appose rs. 

Unquestionably, it is rational to infer, if tho 
evidences in favour of the christian religion enfor- 
ced conviction on the minds of men possessed of 
such penetration and sagacity, it is no small argu-» 
rnent in favour of this dispensation of grace. 

A late celebrated author has made the following 
remarks, relative to the general character of Mr. 
Locke. « He was rendered, says he, truly illustri- 
ous bv his wisdom and his virtue ; by the disinterest- 
edness and uprightness of his conduct ; by his love 
of truth, and his ardent attachment to the great in- 
terests of mankind. He analysed the human mind ; 
explained its operations, and illumined the intellect" 



ii 

ual world, by the sagacity of his rcse arches. He ex- 
amined the foundation of civil government ; traced 
it to its source, and illustrated and enforced its gen- 
uine principles. He maintained the justice, the rea- 
sonableness, and the necessity of religious toleration 
with a clearness, a precision, and a force of argu- 
ment, that had not been equalled by any preceding 
writer. He laboured to elucidate the sacred Scrip- 
tures, to advance the interests of revelation, and of 
virtue, to loosen the bands of tyranny, to promote 
;he cause of liberty, of justice, and of humanity '.-The 
sentiments of Mr. Locke are founded upon reason, 
truth and justice ; and his name will continue to be 
reverenced, wherever learning, liberty, and -virtue, 
shall be held in estimation." 

This great and enlightened man was a zealous ad- 
herent to the Christian Religion, having publish- 
ed a treatise demonstrating the reasonableness of 
believing Jesus Christ to be the promised^lfess/a/* ; 
and also, a most judicious commentary on v St. Paul's 
Kpistles. 

He held the scriptures in the highest veneration ; 
and earnestly exhorted Christians '* to betake 
themselves in earnest to the study of the way to sal- 
vation, in those holy writing's, wherein God has re- 
vealed it from heaven, and proposed it to the world ; 
seeking our religion where we are sure it is in truth 
to be found ; comparing spiritual tilings with spir* 
itual." 

The author of the Age of Reason, notwithstanding 
his effrontery, if ever he read the following testi- 
monies of this great master of reason, in favor of 
Divine Revelation, has I trust, felt a little abash- 
ed 1 " Reason must be our guide in every thing. 
I do uot mean that we must consult reason and exa- 
mine, whether a proposition revealed from God, can 
be explained by natural principles, and if not, that it 
should be rejected. But consult reason we must, 
and by it examine whether the proposition is from 
Cod or not. — »And whatever reason perceives to be 



42 

a revelation from Heaven, it should then embrace, 
"and regard as agreeable to its dictates." 

Agreeably to this opinion, the limits of reason and 
faith are thus denned by Mr. Locke. 

■" Reason" says lie, « as distinguished from/ozVA, 
J esteem to be the discovery of the certainty or 
'probability of such propositions, which the mind ar- 
rives at by deductions made from ideas Which it has 
obtained, by the use of it's natural faculties. Faith 
is our assent to a proposition, upon the credit that it 
proceeded from God, — in some extraordinary way 
cf communication. % 

Reason, is a natural revelation, whereby the Eter* 
■rial Father of Light, and Fountain of all Knowledge, 
-.Communicates to man those truths which he has pla- 
ced within the reach of his natural faculties. Re* 
delation is natural reason enlarged by new discove- 
ries communicated by God immediately ; of which 
reason determines the truth by the testimonies af- 
forded, that they came from God. Thus' far the do- 
minion of faith extends, and without any violence 
offered, to reason ; which is not injured, but assisted 
siii'd improved by new discoveries cf truth, proceed- 
ing from the eternal source of knowledge. Divine 
revelation, should over-rule all our opinions and 
prejudices^ and be received with full assent.' — 
Such a submission of oUr reason to faith destroys 
net the principles of knowledge ;--*— undermines not 
the foundation of reason ; — robs us not of the use 
of our mental faculties.,- — but occasions us to exer- 
cise them agreeably to the will of our Creator./ 

In conversation with Lady Marsham, a few weeks 
before his death, he expatiated on the bounty of 
Cod towards man, in justifying him by faith in Je- 
sus Christ. And returned God thanks, for having 
blessed him with the knowledge of that divine an<i 
propitious Saviour i 

"The evidence of our Saviour's mission from 
Heaven is such, says Mr. Locke, through the multi- 
tude d* mir.acles which he wrought before all sorts 



43 

of people (which divine providence so ordered, that 
they never were nor could be denied^ by the enemies 
of Christianity) that what he delivered cannot but be 
received as the oracles of God, and of unquestiona- 
ble verity" (See his Reasonableness of Christiani- 
ty, p. 256.) 

[Authorities, relative to Mr. Locke's life — see 
General Biographical Dictionary. The British Plu- 
tarch, &c«3 

Sentiment 8 of Francis Bacon, Viscount of \t> 
Albans. 

In Bacon's works we fmd the following senti- 
ments : — 

"A thorough insight into philosophy makes a 
good believer; and a smattering in it naturally pro* 
duces such a race of despicable infidels, as the little 
profligate writers of the present age, whom I must 
confess, I have always accused to myself, not so 
much for their want of faith as for their want oi 
learning." 

" A miracle, says he, was never wrought by God 
to convert an Atheist ; because the light of nature. 
might have occasioned him to have acknowledged a 
God : .miracles were designed to convince idolato: r s 
and the superstitious, who have acknowledged y. 
Deity, but erred in the manner of adoring him ; be- 
cause the light of nature extends not so far, as to 
declare the will of God and the worship, that is to 
be offered to him." 

Lord Bacon, towards the latter end of his life, 
declared, that the first principle of right reason is 
religion. And he seriously professed, that, after 
all his studies and inquiries he durst not die with 
any other thoughts than those of the Christian reli- 
gion.^ 

This great man's merit, cannot be blasted by 
flashes of envy ; his failings hurt only himself, and 
were expiated by his sufferings j his virtue; piejy 



■li 

zvA knowledge, and above all, his great zeal for the 
good of mankind, will be felt while there are men, 
and consequently (while they have gratitude,) the 
Bame of Bacon^ can never be mentioned but with 
the highest admiration. 

He died at London in 1626) aged fifty-five year*. 
(See British Plutarch, &c.) 

Sentiments of the Honourable RtoBERf Botlz. 

A man superior to titles and almost to prake ; il- 
lustrious by birth, by his piety and by his learning ; 
being a distinguished philosopher, and the most ex- 
act searcher into the works of nature that any age 
has produced. To him we owe the secrets of fire, 
ch'y water, animals, vegetables and fossils : so that 
from his works may be deduced the whole system bf 
natural knowledge. 

A work published in 1793, contains the following 
Biographical sketch of Mr. Boyle. " This noble 
■writer applied himself chiefly to experimental phi- 
losophy: and what was the consequence of his search- 
es into nature, but having a more profound reverence 
for the God of nature ? It is related of him, that he 
never mentioned the name of God, without a sol- 
emn pause in his discourse ; so far was he from 
treating it lightly or irreverently; so full was his 
mind of pious love and veneration. Amidst his nu- 
merous philosophical writings, he found time also 
•p write on religious subjects. He wrote a treatise 
particularly on the excellency of theology, compar- 
ed with natural philosophy, and another on the style 
of the scriptures, with admiration and rapture. Hay 
i'ag employed his life in doing good, he extended 
uis benevolence and charities to mankind after his 
dearth, and founded an a'nnual lecture, with a hand- 
some salary, for the proof of natural and revealed 
religion, against atheists, deists, and all other inft- 
defs whomsoever." 

See EfrHisij Plutarch, ht. 



4* 

The following remarks, from the works of this 
great philosopher, are well worthy of the serious at- 
tention of the vain cavillers at divine revelation : 

« It was a saying among the ancients, that even 
Jupiter could not please all ; but we find now, that 
the true God himself, is not free from the censure 
of his audacious creatures, who impiously presume 
to quarrel with his revelation, as well as his provi- 
dence ; and express no more reverence to what he 
has dictated, than to what he doth/' « We are fall- 
en into an age of vain philosophy (as the Apostle 
calls it) and so over-run with- drolls and sceptics, 
that there is hardly any thing so certain and so sa- 
cred, that is not exposed to questions or contempt.'' 

Sentiments of Sir Isaac A'str^ON. 

This great man is universally acknowledged to 
have been the most profound philosopher that Brit- 
ain, or perhaps any other nation has produced : the 
vastness of his mental powers has excited the ad' 
miration of the greatest geniuses in Europe. 

" This excellent person is well known to have 
been a firm believer, and a serious Christian. His 
discoveries concerning the frame and system of the 
universe, were applied by him to demonstrate the 
being of a God, and to illustrate his power and wis- 
dom in the creation. He applied himself also, with 
great attention, to the study of the Holy Scriptures^ 
and considered the several parts of them with un- 
common exactness ; particularly, as to the order of 
time, and the series of prophecies and events relat- 
ing to the Messiah; Upon this head, he has left 
behind him an excellent discourse, to prove that the 
famous prophecy of Daniel's weeks, was an express 
prediction of the coming of the Messiah, and that it 
was fulfilled in Jesus Christ." 

See British Pluurchj Whiston's Memoirs, &c. 



»*2 



li, 



Sentiments of Joseph Jddisoz, Esq. 

This great and good man derived much comfort 
from his hope in another, and a better state. 

The following were his sentiments on that head. 
" The'prospect of a future st^te, says he, is the se- 
cret comfort and refreshment of my soul. It is that 
■which makes nature look cheerful about me ; it dou- 
bles all my pleasures, and supports me under all my 
afflictions. I can look at disappointments and mis- 
fortunes, pain and sickness, death itself, with indif- 
ference, so long as I keep in view the pleasures of 
eternity, and the state of being in which there will 
be no fears nor apprehensions, pains nor sorrows.'* 

" All sorts of men, says Addison, who have gone 
before us into an eternal state, have left this great 
observation behind them, that upon experience they 
nave found, that, what vain thoughts soever men 
may, hi the heat of their youth* entertain of religion^ 
'hey*vilJ 3 sooner or later, feel the testimony God 
Lath given it in every man's breast ; which will 
make them serious, either by the inexpressible 
rears, terrors, and agonies of a troubled mind ; or 
Ibe inconceivable comfort, and joy of a good con- 
science. 

The sentiments of George Fox, the fdous founded 
qf the Society of Christians, called Friends, or 
Quakers; 

« Ye that know the power of God and are come 
to it, which is the cross of Christ, that crucifies yoil 
to the state- that Adam and Eve were in the fall, 
r.nd so to the world. By this power of God ye come 
to see the state that Adam and Eve were in before 
•they fell : which power oi God is the cross, in which 
Uands the everlasting glory, which brings up into 
righteousness and holiness ; the image of Satan-, 
M .'hat Adam, and Eve and a.H their sons and daughters' 



a.fe under the fall. Through this power of God ye 
come to see the state they v/ere in before they fell ; 
yea, and 1 say, to an higher state, to the seed Christ; 
the second Adam, by whom all things were made, 
For man hath been driven from, God. But it is said. 
" The Church is in God, the Father of our Lord 
Jesus Christ." So whoever comes to the Church, 
which is in God the Father of Christ, they must 
come to God again, out of the state that Adam and 
his children are in, in the fall > they must come 
into the righteousness, into the true holiness, tho 
image of God, and out of the earth whither man 
hath been driven, when they come to the church 
Which is in God. The way to this is Christ, the 
light, the life, the truth, the Saviour, the Redeemer, 
the sanctifier, and the justifier, in and through 
whose power, light and life, conversion, regenera- 
tion, arid translation is known from death to life, 
from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan 
to God again." 



The Sentiments of Rob BR? Barclay, 

An eminent writer and exemplary character 
among the Friends^ or Quakers. 

Extracts from a work entitled. " An explanation 
and -vindication of the principles and doctrines of 
the people called Quakers.*' Written by Robert 
Barclay, seeing 720 man knonveih the Father, but 
by the Son, and he to tohom the Son revcalcth hhn / 
and seeing the revelation of the Son is in and by the 
spirit ; therefore the testimony of the spirit is that 
alone by which the true knowledge of God hath 
been, is, and can be only revealed ; Who as, by the 
moving of his own spirit, he converted the chaos of 
this world into that wonderful order wherein it was 
in the beginning, and created man a living sou], to 
rule and govern it ; so by the revelation of the Same 
-spirit, 'he "hath manifested himself all along unto the 



48 

sons of men, both Patriarchs, Prophets and ApfltS- 
ties ; which revelations of 'God, by the spirit, wheth- 
er by outward voices and appearances, dreams or in- 
ward objective manifestations in the hearty were of 
old i\w formal object of their faith, and remains so 
to be ; since the object of the saint* s faith is the same 
in all ages, though set forth under divers adminis- 
trations. " 

'< From these revelations of the spirit of God to 
the Faints, have proceeded the Scriptures of truth, 
which contain, I. A faithful historical account of 
the actings of God's people in divers ages, with ma- 
ny singular and remarkable providences attending 
them. II. A prophetical account of several things 
whereof some are already past, and some yet to 
come. III. A full and ample account of all the 
chief principles of the doctrines of Christ, held forth 
in divers precious declarations, exhortations and 
sentences, which by the moving of God's spirit, 
were at several times, and upon sundry occasions, 
spoken and written unto some churches and their 
pastors." 

" As many as resist not the spirit of q;race, but re- 
ceive the same, in them is produced art holy, pure, 
and spiritual birth, bringing forth holiness, righte- 
ousness, purity, and all those other blessed fruits' 
which are acceptable to God ; by which holy birth 
(to wit jesus christ formed within, and working 
his works in us) as we are sanctified, so are we jus- 
tified in the sight of God, according to the Apos- 
tle's words. « But ye are washed^ but ye are sane 
tlfted, but yc are justified^ in the name of the loud 
■3E3U5, ar.d by the spirit of our God* 



The Sentiments of William Penx, 

An illustrious person, and excellent writer, who 

was a Friend (or Quaker) and the founder of the 
State of Pennsylvania : He was the sen of Sir W#- 
\\m\ Penn. an English Admiral. 



40. 

The learned Dr. Henry Moor, in his philosoph- 
ical works, v. 2 p. 73 S ; gave the following character 
of Win. Penn, and his works : — " He wrote says he, 
a vast number of books j in his piece entitled, " No 
Cross, JNo Crown," he treated the subject ol a fu* 
ture state of life, and the immortality of the soul, 
with a force and spirit equal to most writers :" this 
writer adds, "I have perused some of Mr. Penn's 
writings, and met with several excellent passages in 
them, that are very expressive of a vigorous mind^ 
and experience of what appertains to life and holi- 
ness." 

u William Penn, says another writer, was known 
to be a man of distinguished abilities, of an excel- 
lent sweetness of disposition, qdick of thought, and 
of a ready utterance, full of the qualification of true 
discipleship, even love without dissimulation ; as ex* 
tensive in charity, as comprehensive in knowledge : 
malice or ingratitude were utter strangers to him, be- 
ing so ready to forgive enemies, that the ungrateful 
were not excepted; so that he may justly be rank- 
ed among the icarneu, ;^wjii aim gf^nt I Ivi» nxmiues 
are sufficiently manifested throughout his elaborate 
writings, which are so many lasting monuments of 
his christian qualifications. « His memorial will be 
valued by the wise* — and blessed with the just."—- 
He was learned without vanity, apt without forward- 
ness, facetious in conversation, yet weighty and se- 
rious ; of an uncommon greatness of mind, yet void 
cf the stain of ambition." 

William Penn drew up the first fundamental con- 
stitution of Pennsylvania, in 24 articles— from which 
the following is extracted. 

" In reverence to Qod, the father flight and spir- 
its, the author as well as the object of all divine 
knowledge, faith and worship, I do for me and mine, 
declare and establish for the first fundamental con- 
stitution of the government of this country, that 
every person that doth or shall reside therein, shall 
have and enjoy the free profession of his or hex* 



50 

faith and exercise of worship toward God, in 
such way and manner as every such person 
shall in conscience believe is most acceptable 
to God; and so long as every such person useth 
not this Christian liberty to licentiousness, or to the 
destruction of others, that is to say, to speak loosely 
and profanely, or contemptuously of God, Christy 
the holy scripture, or religion, or commit any moral 
evil or injury, against^ others in their conversa- 
tion ; he or she shall be protected in the enjoyments 
of the aforesaid Christian liberty by the civil ma- 
gistrate. The following judicious remarks, are 
taken from v. 1. 137, of William Perm's works. 
** Let us not think religion a litigious thing ; nor 
that Christ came only to make us good disputants.. 
Sincerity goes farther than capacity.' It is charity 
that deservedly excels in the Christian religion ; and 
happy would it be, if where unity ends, charity did 
begin, instead of envy and railing, that almost ever 
follow. It appears to me the way that God has found 
put and appointed to moderate qyr differences, and 
make them at least harmless to society, and there- 
fore I confess, I dare not aggravate them to wrath 
and blood. Our disagreement lies in our apprehen- 
sion or belief of things ; and if the common enemy of 
mankind had not the governing of our affections 
and passions, that disagreement would not. prove 
such a canker, as it is, to love and peace, in civil so- 
cieties. 

He that suffers his difference with his neighbour 
about the other world, to carry him beyond the line 
of moderation, in this, i3 the worse for his opinion, 
even though it be true. It is too little considered 
by Christians, that man may hold the truth in un- 
righteousness; that they may be orthodox, and not 
know what spirit they are of ; so were the Apostles 
of our Lord, they believed in him, yet let a false 
zeal do violence to {htiv judgment, and their unwar- 
rantable heat contradicted the' great end of their Sa- 
viour's coming, love / 



51 



« Divers, says William Pcnn, have been the clts- 
jensations of God since the creation of the world 
unto the sons of men; but the great end of all 
of them, has been the renown of his orjn excellent 
name in the creation and restoration of man : Man, 
the emblem of himself, as a God on earth, and the 
glory of all his works. The world began with inno- 
cency ; all was then good that the good God had 
made ; and he blessed the works of his hands, so 
their natures and harmony magnified him their Crea- 
tor. Then the morning stars sang together for joy, 
and all parts of his works said Amen to his law. Not 
a jar in the whole frc^me ; but man in paradise, the 
beasts in the field, the fowls in the air, the fish in the 
sea, the light in the heavens, the fruits of the earth ; 
yea, the air, the water and fire worshiped, praised 
and exalted his fiowe", wisdom and gocine&j, O holy 
Sabbath, O holy day to the Lord. 

TJi-e sentiments of the Hon. TjjGmjs Euskjxe. 

The following masterly and conclusive arguments 
•f 'the Honourable Thomas Erskine, one of the most 
eminent and judicious law characters in Great Brit* 
am, relative to the pernicious tendency of Mr. Paine's 
Age of Reason ; and the authenticity of divine 
revelation ; may, we presume, be introduced here 
with propriety. Mr. Erskine, said, " That the biiS€ 
book appeared to him to be as cruel and mischiev- 
ous in its effects, as it was illegal in it principles. 
The poor whom it affected to pity* were stabbed to 
the heart by if; they had more need of consolations 
beyond the grave, than those who had greater com- 
forts to render life delightful. He could conceive 
an humble, innocent, and virtuous m-m, surrounded 
with children, looking up to him for bread which he 
had not to give them, sinking under the last day's 
labour, and unequal to the next, yet still looking up 
with confidence to the hour when all teavs should be 
"VV^ed from the eyes of a&iction, and bearing the 



b'Z 

burden which he believed his unerring- Creator had 
laid upon him for good in the mysteries of a provi- 
dence which* he adored. What a change in such a 
mind might not be wrought, by this merciless pub- 
lication ? 

But it seems this was an age of reason, and the 
time and the person were arrived that were to dis- 
sipate the errors which hud overspread the past ge? 
neration of ignorance. The believers in Christianity 
were many ; but it belonged to the few that were 
wise to correct their credulity. Belief was an act 
of reason ; and superior reason might therefore dic- 
tate to the weak. In running the mind along the 
long list of sincere and devote Christians, he could 
not help lamenting that Newton had not lived to this 
day, to have had his shallowness filled up with this 
new flood of light i But the subject was too awfui 
for irony; he would speak plainly and directly:-— 
Newton was a Christian ; Newton, whose mind had 
burst the fetters cast by nature on our finite concep- 
tions, Newton whose science was truth, and the 
foundation of whose knowledge of it was philosophy, 
not those visionary, arrogant presumptions which 
too often usurped its name, but philosophy resting 
upon the basis of mathematics, which like figures, 
could not lie ;— -Newton who carried the line and 
rule to the uttermost barriers of creation, and ex- 
plored the principles by which, no doubt, all created 
matter was held together and exists. But this ex- 
traordinary man, in the mighty reach of his mind, 
overlooked perhaps the errors which a more minute 
investigation of the created things on this earth might 
have taught him of the essence of his Creator. What 
should then be said of the great Mr. Boyle, who 
looked into the organic structure of all matter, even, 
to the brute, inanimate substance which the foot 
treads on ; such a man might be supposed equally 
qualified with Mr. Paine, to look up '« through nature 
to nature's God I" But the result of all his contem- 
plation was ; the most confirmed and devout belief 



in all which others hold in contempt, us despicable 
and drivelling superstition. 

But this error might perhaps arise from a want 
<©f due attention to the foundation of human judg- 
ment, and the structure of that understanding which 
God has given us for the investigation of truth. 
Let that question be answered by Mr. Locke, who 
was, to the highest pitch of devotion and adoration 
a Christian. — Mr. Locke, whose office it was to de- 
tect the errors of thinking, by going up to the foun- 
tains of thought, and to direct into the proper tract 
of reasoning the devious mind of man, by shewing 
him its whole process, from the first perceptions of 
sense to the last conclusion of ratiocination, putting 
a rein besides upon false opinions by practical rules 
for the conduct of human judgment. But these men 
were only deep thinkers, and lived in their closets, 
unaccustomed to the traffic of the world, and to the 
laws which practically regulate mankind. 

Gentlemen, in the place where we now sit to ad- 
minister the justice of this country, above a century 
ago, the never to be forgotten sir Matthew Hale 
presided, whose faith in Christianity is an exalted 
commentary upon its truth and reason, and whose 
life was a glorious example of its sweets, adminis- 
tering human justice with a wisdom and purity, 
drawn from the pure fountain of the Christian dis- 
pensation, which has been, and will be in all ages, a 
subject of the highest reverence and admiration. 
But it is said by the author, that the Christian fable 
is but the tale of the more ancient superstitions of 
the world, and may be detected by a proper under- 
standing of the mythology. But, said Mr. Erskine, 
did Milton understand those mythologies ? was he 
less versed than Mr. Paine in the superstitions of 
the world ? O no, they were the subject of his im- 
mortal song — and though shut out from all recur- 
rence to them, he poured them forth from the stores 
of the memory, rich with all men ever knew, and 
kid them in their order as the illustration of tha^ 



o* 

new and exalted faith, the unquestionable source of 
that fervid genius which cast a sort of shade upon 
all the other works of man. It was not the pur- 
pose of God to destroy free agency by over-power- 
ing the human mind with the irresistible light and 
conviction of revelation, but to leave men to collect 
its truths, as they were gradually illustrated in the 
accomplishment of the divine promises of the gos- 
pel. He declared, that bred as he W£s to the con- 
sideration of evidence, he considered the prophecy 
concerning the destruction of the Jewish nation to 
be, even if there were nothing else to support Chris- 
tianity, absolutely irresistible. The Jews them- 
selves did not deny the existence of the prophecies, 
and their very history was not accountable for on 
any human principle. Their separation into tribes 
to preserve the genealogy of Christ; the distinction 
of the tribe of Judah from which he has come ; the 
fall of that distinction, when that end was accom- 
plished ; the predicted departure of the sceptre 
from Israel ; the destruction of the Temple, which 
imperial munificence in vain attempted to rebuild to 
disgrace the prophecy ; the scattering of this nation 
over the face of the whole earth ; the spreading of 
the gospel throughout the whole world ; the perse- 
cution of its true ministers, and foretold superstitions 
which had for ages defiled its worship, were facU 
which no man could by argument do away, and 
which certainly no Christian state ought to tolerate 
a man in the impudent mockery of, without any ar- 
gument at all." 

The sentiments of the great sir M Aft hew Hale. 

Mr. Hale was certainly one of the best and ablest 
characters that ever graced the English Bench. 

The following testimonies of this truly great and 
pious character, may tend to exhibit the power and 
efficacy of the Christian religion ; as the only sure 
guide, support and comfort of our lives, in our pre - 



bo 

sent state of probation. " It is impossible for thee*, 
says he, to enjoy that which must make thee happy, 
till thou art deeply sensible of thy own emptiness 
and nothingness, and thy spirit thereby brought 
down and laid in the dust. — The spirit of Christ is 
an humbling spirit ; the more thou hast of it, the 
more it will humble thee ; and it is a sign that 
either thou hast it not, or that it is yet over-mastered 
by corruptions, if thy heart still be haughty— 
Wateh, therefore, the secret persuasions, and dis- 
suasions of the spirit of God, and beware thou 
quench it not nor grieve it. This wind that blows 
where it lists, if shut out or resisted, may haply 
never breathe on thee again, but leave thee to be 
hardened in thy sins : but if observed and obeyed* 
thou shalt be sure to have it for thy monitor and di- 
rector, upon all occasions. When thou goest out, 
it will lead thee ; when thou sleepest, it will keep 
thee ; and when thou awakest, it will talk to thee." 

"Genuine religion, says Mr. Hale, teaches the 
soul a high veneration of Almighty God ; a sincere 
and upright walking, as in the presence of the in*, 
-visible, All-seeing God. It makes a man truly love, 
honour, and obey him? and therefore careful to 
•know what his will is. It renders the heart highly- 
thankful to him as his Creator, Redeemer, and Ben- 
efactor. It makes a man entirely depend on him, 
seek him for guidance, direction and protection ; 
and submit to his will with patience and resignation 
of soul. It gives the law, not only to his words and 
actions, but to his very thoughts and purposes ; so 
that he darei not entertain any which are unbecom- 
ing the sight and presence of that God, to whom all 
our thoughts are legible- It crushes all pride and 
haughtiness, both in a man's heart and carriage ; and 
gives him an humble frame of soul and life, both in 
the-sight of God and men. It regulates and governs 
the passions of the mind, and brings them into due 
moderation and frame. It gives a roan a right esti- 
mate of this worldj and sets the heart and feope-s- 



above it ; so that he never loves it more than it de- 
serves. It makes the wealth and glory of this world, 
high places, and great preferments, but of low and 
little value to him ; so that he is neither covetous, 
nor ambitious, nor over-solicitous,, concerning the 
advantages of them. Jt makes him value the love 
$f God, and peace of conscience, above all the 
wealth and honour in the world, and to be very dili- 
gent to keep it inviolably. He performs all his du- 
ties to God in sincerity and integrity ; and, whilst 
Jie lives on earth, his conversation, his hopes, his 
treasures, are in heaven, and he endeavours to walk 
suitable to such a hope." 

" Those who truly fear God, says he, have a se- 
cret guidance from a higher wisdom than what is 
human ; namely, the spirit of truth and wisdom, 
*■ hat doth rrilly, and truly, but secretly, prevent and 
direct them. Any man that sincerely and truly 
jears Almighty God, and calls aud relies upon him 
lor guidance and direction, hath it as really as a son 
hath the counsel and direction of his father ; and 
though his voice be not audible, nor the direction 
always perceptible, or discernible by sense, yet it is 
equally as real as if a man heard the' voice saying, 
( l This is the way, walk in it." — " And though this 
:ecret direction of Almighty God is principally seen, 
;n matters relating to the good of the soul ; yet it 
may also be found in the concerns of this life, which 
a good man, that fears God, and begs his direction, 
shall very often, if not at. all times find. I can call 
my own experience to witness, that even in the ex- 
ternal actions of my whole life, I was never disap- 
pointed of the best guidance and direction, when I 
have, in humility and sincerity, implored the secret 
direction and guidance of the divine wisdom." 

" The observance of the secret admonitions of 
this spirit of God in the heart, is an effectual means 
to cleanse and sanctify thy heart ; and the more it 
is attended to, the more it will be conversant with 
thy sou! 3 for thy instruction. In the midst of thy 



57 

difficulties, it will be thy counsellor ; in the midst 
of thy temptations, it will be thy strength, and grace 
sufficient for thee ; in the midst of thy troubles, it 
will be thy light and thy comfort." 
(See general Bio. Dictionary.) 

The Sentiments of his Ext-ellency John Jat, late 
Governor of this state, and formerly ambassador 
to a foreign court. 

Mr. Jay is allowed by all parties to be one of the 
most exemplary and judicious characters in th& 
United States. — « I have long been of opinion, that 
the evidence of Christianity, required only to be 
©arefully examined, to produce conviction in can^ 
did minds." 

(See his letter to the Rev, Doctor Uzal Ogde% 
ff Newark.) 



:»:2 



m 

CHAPTER IT. 

ENGLAND. 

The accounts of the first population of all nations 
are extremely uncertain ; the early aeras, and the 
transactions of the imtnediataly succeeding periods, 
are generally enveloped in thick darkness, or in- 
volved in fable. 

Britain was little known before the invasion of 
Julius Caesar, and its inhabitants were then remark- 
able only for their ferocity or barbarism. It receiv- 
ed the name of Albion from its white rocks ; and 
Britain from Britt, an old word, signifying at that 
time, painting the skin, which was much used by 
the first people. 

Julius Caesar conducted his army into this un- 
known country, which was divided into several small 
States, governed by petty princes, fifty -five years be- 
fore Christ. The emperor Claudius conquered a 
great part of their island, and carried their chief 
prince Caractacus, to Rome in triumph. Under 
2tfero, the Britons rebelled ; but at last they were 
finally subdued by Julius Agricola. 

About forty years after the dissolution of the Ro» 
man government, (A. D. 449) Vortigern appears to 
Iiave obtained the supreme command of the princes 
and cities of Britain. This unfortunate monarch, 
liarrassed by the continual invasions of a domestic 
ibe, was at length reduced to the necessity of invit- 
ing the Saxons, a German nation, to protect his 
fhrone and people from the fury of those barbarians. 
•[Gibbon.] Hengist and Horsa, two Saxon chiefs, 
as they ranged along the eastern coast with three 
ships, were engaged, by the promise of an ample 
Stipend^ to embrace the defence ef Britain : and 



$9 

iheir intrepid valour soon delivered them from their 
enemies. The isle of Thanet, a secure and fertile 
district, was allotted for the residence of those Ger- 
man auxiliaries, and they were supplied, according 
to the treaty, with an allowance of clothing and pro- 
visions. Having repulsed the Scots and i icts, the 
perfidious Hengists, being joined by succ ssive colo- 
nies of his own countrymen, (these colonies were 
principally composed of three valiant tribes or na- 
tions of Germany — the Jews, the old Saxons, and 
the Angles,) turned his arms against the Britons, 
and perpetrated a treacherous massacre during the 
security of a feast. After a long and violent con- 
test, the Saxons extirpated or enslaved those whom 
they had engaged to protect. Different parts of the 
island being subdued by different chieftians or lead- 
ers — seven independent thrones — the Saxon heptar- 
chy — were founded by the conquerors. 

Alfred the Great succeeded to the throne, on 
the death of his father Ethelwoif, A. D. 838. 

The Danes landed in great numbers, made them- 
selves masters of the sea coasts, and of the most 
fertile provinces. They were at last defeated with 
great slaughter ; and Alfred allowed a body of the 
vanquished enemy to settle in Northumberland, on 
their consenting to submit to his government, and 
embrace Christianity. This great prince establish- 
ed a regular militia for the defence of his kingdom ; 
divided England into hundreds and tithings ; ap- 
pointed trials by jury and county courts. He en- 
couraged learning, navigation, and commerce. 

On the death of Alfred, A. D. 899, JKngland re- 
lapsed into barbarism. During the weak adminis- 
tration of several of his successors, the Danes re- 
newed their invasions, till Ethelred, a weak prince, 
at first endeavoured meanly, to compound with them 
for his safety, and afterwards with a cruelty incident 
to weak minds, formed the design of massacreing 
all the Danes in the kingdom, A. D. 1002, which he 
carried into execution, Sweyn, king of. Denmark 



m 

ioolt vengeance on the English for the slaughter, of 
his countrymen, and compelled Ethelred to seek 
refuge in the court of his brother-in-law, Richard? 
duke of Normandy, A. D. 1013. 

His son, Edmond Ironside, after having bravely 
struggled for the independence of his kingdom, was 
at last betrayed by his general, Edric, and obliged 
to divide his dominions with Canute, son of the Dan- 
ish king Sweyn. Edmund suivived this division 
only a month, being murdered at Oxford by two of 
his chamberlains, A. D. 1017, whose treachery made 
way for the accession of Canute the dane to the 
throne of England. This prince by the conquest of 
Norway, became the most powerful monarch of hie 
time ; being sovereign of Denmark, Norway, and 
England. 

Of Harold Harefoot, and Hardicanute, his sonc 
and successors, nothing is recorded that merits at- 
tention : only that on the death of Hardicanute, the 
English shook off the Danish yoke, and placed on 
the throne of his successors, Edward, surname d the 
Confessor, son of the unfortunate Ethelred. Though 
an excellent prince, he disguised the English by. his 
partiality to the Normans, among whom he had been 
educated; and he declared William* duke of Nor- 
mandy, his cousin, to be his successor* 

On the death of Edward, Harold, the son, of earl 
Godwin, usurped the vacant throne ' t but his right 
was disputed by the duke of Normandy, who landed 
on the coast of Sussex, at the head of 60,000 men. 
The battle of Hastings, A, D. 1066, won by the 
^ormans, placed William the Conqueror on the 
ne of England, and terminated the Anglo-Saxon 
monarchy in Britain. 

William, thus possessed of the crown, by a pre- 
tended will of King Edward,, abetted by force of 
arms, with a prudent policy, endeavoured to concili- 
ate the affections of the nobility and gentry, by con- 
firming them in the possession of their lands and 
dignities; but eyery where disarmed the natives, 



61 

and placed all real power in the hands of the Not - 
mans. He established the feodal government, di- 
vided the kingdom into baronies, and ordered a gen- 
eral survey to be taken of all the lands of England j 
their extent in each district, their proprietors, ten- 
ures, value ; the quantity of meadow, pasture, wood 
and arable land, which they contained ; and, in some 
counties the number of tenants, cottagers and slaves 
of all denominations, who lived upon them, A. D. 
1081. This valuable piece of antiquity, called 
Domesday Book, is still preserved in the Exchequer, 
and helps to illustrate to us the ancient state of Eng- 
land. William died A- D. 1087, and was succeed- 
ed in the duchy of Normandy by his eldest son Rob- 
ert and the kingdom of England by his second soh, 

William, surnamed Rufus, whose violent and ty- 
rannical reign continued thirteen years, when on his 
death, Henry I. usurped the throne, which was the 
inheritance of his elder brother Robert of Normaa- 
mandy. This prince governed with severity. His 
domestic misfortunes were very great. His only 
son William, who had attained his 18th year, had 
accompanied him on an expedition into Normandy, 
feutpeiishedon his return with all his retinue.— 
The royal youth was anxious to get first to land ; 
and the captain of the vessel, being intoxicated with 
liquor, heedlessly ran her on a rock, where she was 
immediately dashed to pieces. The king was so- 
much affected by the news, that he is said never to 
have smiled more (A. D. 1 120.) His daughter Ma- 
tilda married Geoffrey Piantagenet, son of the Count 
of Anjou. Henry, dying A. D. 1135, destined the 
succession of the kingdom to his daughter, but his 
nephew, 

Stephen usurped the throne. The despotism of 
ihe king, the licentiousness of the nobles, and the 
oppression of the people, invited and encouraged 
the earl of Gloucester, and David king of Scotland, 
to take up arms in support of Matilda's right (A, 
D. 1138.) A long and bloody war ensued, whish 



62 

after various successes, terminated in the succes- 
sion being secured to Henry of Anjou, Matilda's 
son. The usuper died the year after, when 

Henry II. (surnamed Plantagenet) -was invested 
with the supreme power. lie was the greatest 
prince of his time. lie began his reign with re- 
establishing justice; and good order, to which the 
English world had been long a stranger. He at- 
tempted next to reform the abuses of the church, 
but was opposed in all his measures by Becket, arch- 
bishop of Canterbury. The Roman pontiff, and the 
king of France, espoused the cause of his haughty 
prelate. Henry, dreading the sentence of excom- 
munication, submitted with reluctance; and Becket 
was soon after murdered at the altar (A. D. 1 170) 
and canononized. Having soothed the pope, who 
threatened to avenge the archbishop's murder, the 
king undertook the conquest of Ireland; an enter- 
prize which he had long mediated, and for which 
he had obtained a grant from pope Adrian I V. but 
■which had been deferred by reason of his quarrels 
with the primate. This expedition proved success- 
ful. Though victorious in all quarters, and crowned 
with glory, this best and most indulgent of parents 
was obliged to maintain war against his own family. 
His sons rebelled, and were supported by the kings 
of France and Scotland. This barbarous behaviour 
preyed on his spirits, and soon put a period to his 
life (A. D. 1189.) 

Edward III. This youthful and ambitious mon- 
arch claimed the kingdom of France, in right of his 
mother, the daughter of Philip the fair. A war with 
►France ensued (A. D. i 338) the event of which 
was prosperous. His heroic son, called the Black 
•Prince, from the color of his armour, won the baU 
tie of Cressy, A. D. 1346. The French were again 
idefeated at the battle of Poictiers, and John their 
king taken prisoner and brought to London. These 
splendid successes were of no real advantage t6 
England. In the conclusion/ of Edward's life> his 



63, 

fortunes declined. An extravagant attachment to 
Alice Pierce, a young lady of wit and beauty, gave 
such general disgust, as to become the object of a 
parlimentary remonstrance. The king did not 
long survive the death of his amiable son, the prince 
of Wales. He expired in the 5 1 st year of his reign : 
one of the longest, and though the latter days of it 
were indeed somewhat obscured by the infirmities 
and follies ©f age, yet it certainly was one of the 
most glorious in the English annals. 

Bis successor, Richard II. son of the Black Prince, 
Was little able to recover what had been lost through 
the dotage of his grandfather. A poll-tax of three 
groats a-head on every person, male and female, 
above fifteen years of age, excited a most formida- 
ble insurrection, headed, by Wat Tyler, which was 
quelled by the prudence and courage of Richard.— 
His spirited behaviour at this juncture raised the 
highest expectations concerning him. But ti'-- pre- 
sages of youth are often fallacious! He was a slave 
to unworthy favourites. Having confiscated the 
estate of Vis kinsmen, Henry duke of Lancaster, 
he rebelled against, deposed and murdered the 
king. Thus began the contest between the hou- 
ses of York and Lancaster. 

The duke of Lancaster ascended the English 
throne under the name of Henry IV A. D. 1399. 
He was the son of John Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, 
fourth son of Edward the III. In his turbulent 
reign occurred little worthy of notice, except the 
act of burning the followers of Wickliffe, a secular! 
priest educated at Oxford, who during the reigns 
of Edward III. and Richard II. had preached the 
doctrine of reformation. 

Henry VIII. Religious disputes form the im~ 
portant object of this reign. Wickliffe, in the reig* 
of Richard II. was the first who combated in Eng* 
land the errors of the- church' of Rome. His doc- 
trines prepared for a subsequent revolution of Opin- 
ions ; but he had few open followers. . The intern* 



6* 

perate passions of Henry were the immediate cause 
of the reformation in England. His affections ha- 
ving been estranged from the queen, Catherine, 
he solicited a divorce : the pope hesitated, and Hen- 
ry prevailed on the archbishop of Canterbury to an- 
nul the marriage, as a necessary step before he 
could marry Anne Boleyn. The pope condemned 
the sentence of the archbishop, and Henry in return 
shook off the authority of the see of Rome, and de- 
clared himself head of the national church. The 
unfortunate Anne Was beheaded on a charge of 
infidelity, ufter whom the king successively married 
Jane Seymour, Anne of Clever, Catherine Howard, 
and Catherine Parr. His whole reign abounded in 
acts of violence and tyranny, from which the nation 
was happily delivered by his death. A. D. 1547. 

During the short reign of his only son, Edward 
VI. the protestant religion prevailed. 

Mary succeeded to the throne of England. The 
young, beautiful, and innocent lady Jane Grey, in- 
duced by her ambitious father-in-law, accepted the 
crown, and lost her head. Mary restored the Rom- 
ish religion, and a most sanguinary persecution of 
the protestants filled the whole of this short, bigoted 
reign. Archbishop Cranmer ; Hooper, bishop of 
Gloucester; Farrar, bishop of St. David's; Ridley, 
bishop of London ; Latimer, bishop of Worcester ; 
and several other protestant divines, suffered mar- 
trydom. The loss of Calais to the French, affected 
Mary so deeply, that she fell into a slow fever, which 
put an end to her inglorious reign. 

The accession of her sister Elizabeth was fol- 
lowed by a firm establishment of protestanism. A 
liturgy was framed, and the hierarchy settled by 
archbishops, bishops, priests, and deacons. The af- 
fairs of Scotland are deeply interwoven with those 
of England, during this reign, occasioned by the ri- 
valship and personal enmity between Mary, queen 
of Scots, and Elizabeth. Mary was granchild to 
Henry VII. by his eldest daughter, Margaret) and 



consort to the dauphin of Prance. Her attachment 
to the catholic religion was the principal cause of 
her misfortunes. A conspiracy formed by Babing- 
ton, A. D. 1586, and the adherents of the church 
of Rome, for the assassination of Elizabeth, and the 
establishment Of popery, to which Mary was accus- 
ed of being privy, brought this amiable, accom- 
plished, but unfortunate queen j to fc the scaffold, 
A. D. 1587, a victim to the jealousy and fears of an 
offended rival: an act by which the English queen 
has forever sullied the glory of her reign. Eliza- 
beth's attention was now called to more distant dan- 
gers. Philip Hi of Spain, determining to execute 
his ambitious project of the entire conquest of Eng- 
land, prepared a grand armada, vainly denominated 
invincible, which was defeated, A. D. 1588, by 
the English fleet, under the earl of Effingham and 
sir Francis Drake. The earl of Essex, the queen's 
favourite, was sent a deputy-lieutenant to Ireland, 
to quell a rebellion which 'had been raised by the 
earl of Tyrone, who had assumed the title of king, 
A. D. 1599. Essex returned to England unsuc- 
cessful, and entered into a conspiracy against the 
queen, for which he was beheaded, A. D. 1600— 
The queen's affection for him was so violent, that 
she became pensive, peevish, and melancholy, and 
expired two years after, her body being totally 
wasted by anguish of mind and abstinence. 

With Elizabeth ended the house of Tudor. The 
accession of the family of Stuart, in the person of 
her successor, James I. forms a memorable era in 
the history of Great-Britain. 

James I came to the crown with high notions of 
the regal power, which often betrayed hkn into im- 
prudencies and error*. The people began to aspire 
after a greater portion of liberty than they had hi- 
therto enjoyed. The domestic tranquility was in- 
terrupted at the commencement of this reign, by 
the conspiracy of Cobham, Grey, and Raleigh.— 
Their intention was to raise the king's cousin, Ara- 



60, 

bella Stuart, to the throne. The cenipirators were, 
executed. This, was followed by the gunpowder 
treason ; a plot which excited universal ascoi ish- 
ment and horror. Its object was, the destruction 
of the king and parliament. This dreadful scheme 
was happily detected, and the authors of it were 
punished. 

Charles I. succeeded t© the crown of his father 
at a very critical period, and with ideas of the royal 
perogative much averse to the spirit of the times* 
Unable to obtain supplies from his first parliament, 
for the prosecution of war in defence of his brother- 
in-law, the elector palatine, he quarrelled with, and 
afterwards dissolving, them, endeavoured to- raise 
?noney by loans from his subjects. The new par- 
liament that succeeded was less complying than the. 
former *. they framed a petition of rights, requiring, 
the abolishment of loans from the subject, and taxes 
2»ajsed without parliamentary aid. To this the king 
reluctantly assented ; but still continuing impru- 
dently to levy the imposts on tonnage and pound- 
age, without a new grant, the commons urged this 
as a violation of the petition of rights, and were dis- 
solved. A new parliament assembled, .but being v 
«till less obsequious to the royal will, was once more 
dissolved, and the king summoned his fifth and last 
parliament. . The discontents of the nation were now , 
very great, and Charles, sensible of his errors, as- 
sented to a bill fixing the right of parliament . alone 
to levy taxes, and consented to summons one every 
third year. His ministers the earl of Stafford an<i 
archbishop Laud, were impeached and beheaded. — 
The conduct of the. commons, hitherto laudable, be- 
came now unconstitutional and unjustifiable. Tfreyr 
passed a bill to render their assembly perpetual, and^ 
arrogated to. themselves the military and executive 
authority of the crown, the power of nominating the . 
governors and, lieutenants of all the fortified places*,, 
aftd declare4,ft a breach of privilege to dispute , tW. 



%wVfra1fned by parliament alone; The king issued 
"proclamations against this usurpation. A civil war was 
the consequence, AD. 1643. 7 Charles was at first 
-successful, bUtttie decisive battle of JSTaseby, A. D. 
t645, in which the' royal army was totally defeated, 
'gave the rebels the command of the state. Having 
in vain attempted a reconciliation, the king fled to 
Scotland, and was shortly afterwards delivered up 
*tiy the commanders of the Scots army, for reasons 
^st 'known to theniselves i Cromwell, who had 
-"'ji'ea&'ecl 'the parliamentary forces, which'now con- 
sisted of a set of military "hypocrites and enthusiasts, 
seized the unfortunate 'monarch's person, and ap- 
pointing a court of justice, proceeded with deliber- 
ate solemnity tothe trial Of his sovereign. The ex- 
ecution of {His unfortunate prince, A. D. 1649, was 
^foHoweH by the dissolution of monarchy. Tlfe 
commons passed ah act, abolishing kingly power as 
useless, Burdensome, and dangerous, and annulled 
"■the house of peers. 

A 'republican form of government was established 
on the ruins of monarchy, under the direction of the 
.parliament; but the army very soon took the power 
out of their liands, and Oliver Cromwell, a pri- 
vate gentleman of Huhtingdonsliire, who had been 
appointed their cohimander-in-chief, usurped the 
government, with the title of IjOri> Protector of 
tlrelhree kingdoms, I^is administration was rigor- 
rras but arbitrary. A slow fever put a period to his 
life, Sept. 3 1658, 

His e'idest son, R'ic'hard, succeeded in il>e protec- 
torship ; but, from his weakness and incapacity, 
c'duld not keep it. On the first appearance of. diffi- 
culties, he resigned the government, and Henry 
'Crorrrwel'l, lord-lieutenant of Ireland, followed his 
brother's example. — Disorder and anarchy ensued. 
General Monk, then at the head of the army in 
'Scotland, marched into England, procured the 
«ummonso 4 fa 'free parliament, and "Charles, the eld- 
est son of the wvfortvma^emoa&rcl^ who had taker* 



£8 

jefuge in France, sent a declaration of indemnity 
and liberty of conscience to the House. They re- 
received it, and proclaimed him king, A: D. 1660. 

The reign of Charlfs II. was the sera of taste 
and genius ; though his court was the residence of 
voluptuousness and prodigality.— Guided by the 
worst of ministers,,his domestic's administration was 
turbulent. He lived uneasy with his parliament, 
which,, as he could not controul; he dissolved, and 
governed with absolute authority, and was at last 
poisoned. As he died without children, his brother? 
the duke of. York* succeeded to the throne by the 
title of 

James IT. He openly encouraged popery, and 
was himself directed solely by romish priests. He 
adopted the most despotic measures, invaded every 
part of the constitution, committed the bishops to 
prison, and received the pope's nuneio in London. 
The nation, exasperated at these encroachments 
upon their civil and religious liberties, solicited the 
aid of the prince of Orange, nephew and son-in-law 
of James. He arrived in England, and being re- 
ceived with general satisfaction, James^ abandoned 
by all, abdicated the throne, and retired to France.* 
The parliament settled the crown on the prince and 
princess of Orange, who were proclaimed sovereigns 
of Great Britain, 8cc. by the title of 

King William and Queen Mary. — Beth hou- 
ses passed a bill, or instrument of settlement, which 
regulated the line of succession, and provided 
against the return of those grievances which had 
driven the nation to the fiercest extremity* and ef- 
fectually secured from the future encroachments of 
the sovereign the most essential rights of the people* 
Thus was happily terminated the great struggle of 
privilege and prerogative, between the crown and the 
people, which commenced with the accession of the 
family of Stuart to the throne of England, and con- 

*.•**..... • i. ......... .r....... ............... .. ..•.<> 

*He died an exile in France, August 6, 1 701:. 



tinned- till their expulsion, whea almost a century 
had elapsed. This revolution forms a grand «era in 
the English constitution. 

The unfortunate monarch, having obtained assis- 
tance from the French king, Louis, embarked for 
Ireland; but his attempt was not attended with suc- 
cess. The rebels were defeated near the Boyne, 
(A. O. 1690) and James returned to -France. 

William was a prince of great vigour of mind, 
nrmness of tempers and intrepidity of spirit. Hn, 
was making vast preparations for carrying on wa* 
against the French, who, on the death of James Ih 
had, in violation of a treaty, acknowledged the soh 
of that exiled prince king of Great Britain and Ire- 
land, under the tide of James III. when a fall from 
his horse thre*w him into a fever, which put a period 
to his life, (A. f>. 1702.) 

In the year 1748^ the war with France and Spain 
was concluded, and the treaty of Aix la-Chapelle 
signed; but the French encroaching on the bound- 
aries of the English provinces in North- America', 
orders were sent to the governors of the British set- 
tlements to oppose force by force, A. D. 1-764.— 
War was accordingly declared. — -Minorca Was lost* 
and admiral Byng, Who had been sent to the relief 
of it, was tried, condemned, and shot, for neglect 
of duty in an engagement with the French fleet* • 
which covered the siege. This misfortune wa&- 
most amply compensated by the success of the Bri- 
tish arms in the reduction of Surat and Pohdicherry,. 
in the East-Indies, The English likewise mad@ N 
themselves masters of* Guidaloupe, Quebec^ Mon- 
treal, and every other place within the government* 
of Canada : Gorec, and the other French •: settle*- 
sftents on the river Senegal, in Afr-isa, 



TO 



CHAPTER Y. 



HOLLAND. 

The Netherlands, with that part of German? 
which lies west of the Rhine, was possessed by the 
Romans, who called it Gallia Belgica : but upon 
the decline of the Roman empire, the Goths, and 
other northern people, took possession of these pro- 
vinces, as they passed through them in their way to 
France and Spain, and here excited several smalt 
governments which were a kind of limited monarch- 
ies, whose sovereigns were 3tyled dukes, counts or 
lords. These provinces were seventeen in number : 
viz. four dukedoms; Brabant, Limburg, Luxem- 
burg and Guelders ; seven earldoms ; Flanders* 
Artois, Hainault, Holland, Zealand, Namur and 
Zutphen : five lordships, JMesland, Malines, 
Utrecht, Overyssel and Groningen : beside Ant- 
werp, which has the title of marquisate of the Ro- 
man empire. The people enjoyed great privileges 
under these prinees, who were contented with pre- 
serving them, because the smallness of their domin- 
ions made thtir greatest strength consist in the af- 
fection of their subjects ; but afterwards, when all 
these provinces became subject to the house of Bur- 
gundy, which held large provinces elsewhere, the 
people were treated with less indulgence. From 
Burgundy they passed to the house of Austria ;^-~ 
Charles V. was the first prince of this house, and, as 
&e was king of Spain* emperor of Germany, and 
auke of Burgundy, he had different interests from 
those of his predecessors j, and being engaged in a 
-arar with France,, he brought foreign forces from his 
other dominions into the Netherlands, notwithstandi- 
ng, the express laws to tfi&,cojntrary« 



m 

At length the Reformation gaining ground here*, 
that prince published very rigorous edicts against 
those who separated from the Romish church ; and 
Grotius affirms, that during his reign above a hun- 
dred thousand persons suffered death for their reli- 
giou ; but the number and courage of those who 
embraced the Reformation, instead of being dimi- 
nished by the horrors of persecution, daily increased, 
and sometimes the people rescued out of the hands 
of the officers those who were leading to execution. 
Thus the Netherlands became extremely alienated 
from the house of Austria, and their discontents in- 
creased on Charles* abdicating his throne in favor 
of his son Philip II. This prince, who treate d his 
Flemish subjects with much more austerity than 
his father had done, would admit onlyof the popish 
religion ; and a sanguinary persecution against the 
heretics, as they were called, was carried on with 
fresh rigour; a court, resembling that of the inqui- 
sition, was erected, and these cruelties were aggra- 
vated by insupportable taxes \ but at the time when 
Philip left the Netherlands, he appointed the prince 
of Orange governor over four of those provinces. 

The house of Nassau, of which the prince of O- 
range was, derives its chief title from the eleven, 
counties of the principality of Nassau, in the impe- 
rial circle of the Upper Rhine. 

These oppressions being excercised with the. 
most tyrannical fury by Ferdinand of Toledo, duke 
of Alva, whom Philip had created governor, the Ne- 
therlands made a strong effort for their freedom^ 
and William Prince of Orange, in conjunction with. 
his brother count Louis of Nassau,, undertook the, 
defence of the inhabitants, in their noble struggles, 
for religion and civil liberty. Accordingly the 
states of Holland, in their own names, conferred 
the stadtholdership* a title equivalent to lieutenant,, 
on the former,, and several other towns and provin- 
ces declared for him. He first united them, in 
5 756, in one general association, under the title of; 



feg 

* Tne •ptfcifitatftm of Gftent ~ But t^ife fcufon bemg^ 
soon dissolved, the prince laboured to the utmost of 
his power to form amofffe durable alliance, which he 
happily accomplishedtin 1579. In that year the cel- 
ebrated league of Utrecht Was concluded-, which 
gave name to the United Provinces-, and became 
the basb and plan of their constitution . The prince 
of Orange was afterwards oft the point of being 
nominated the sovereign of these countries, but wae 
treacherously shot in 1584, by an assassin named 
Selthafcar Gerhard* who had assumed the name of 
Francis Guyon. This man was supposed to have 
been hired to perpetrate the murder by the Spanish 
ministry r but no tortures could force a cenfessdoft 
from him. The United Netherlands^ however^ 
continued to maintain, sword* in hand, that liberty to 
which they had raised themselves : queen Elisa- 
beth of England took them under her protection, 
and rendered them, essential assistance. When the 
earl of Leicester, the favourite of that queen, was 
sent over by her to the Netherlands, in the year 
1685, the states appointed him governor and captain-* 
general of the United Provinces, or in other words 
their Stadthelder ; but his haughty Carriage, and* 
Hnskilful manner of conducting the War, soon ren- 
dered him unpopular* and the next year he returned- 
to England. The Dutch, being afterwards better 
supported by the English,, baffled all the attempts of" 
the Spaniards, and their commerce arrived at such 
a pitch, that in 1-602 their celebrated East Indifc 
company was established ; ahd Spain being bothr 
weakened and discouraged by the ill success of a te*- 
dious war, in 1 609 agreed to an armistice for twelve^ 
years, and in the very Erst article of the treaty ac- 
knowledged the United Netherlands to be a free 
and independent state. During this truce the re- 
public attained to a degree of power which it has 
never since exceeded— These signal successes 
were principally obtained by the able conduct of" 
j^rince Maurice ©f N*ssaw; T the seeend son of the- 



£rst stadtholder, and to the same dignity this prinee 
was chosen when only twenty-one years of age. He 
conducted the affairs of the states, during twenty 
year?, with great ability and success. The latter 
part of this prince's government was sullied by cru- 
elty and ingratitude ; for he procured the condemn- 
ation and death of the pensionary Barnevelt, to 
whose liia influence he owed his elevation. This 
man was sacrificed to his opinions, for he was an. 
Armenian in religion and a republican in politics, 
but his death caused the political principles for 
which he suffered to spread more widely. Those 
who opposed the stadthotder were afterwards called 
'* the Louvestein party," from De Witt, burgomas- 
ter of Dort, and five other members of the states 
general, being imprisoned in that castle for main- 
taining such sentiments. 

In J 62 1 the war was again renewed, during which- 
the stadtholder, prince Frederick Henry, youngest 
son of the first William, who. succeeded on the 
death of his half brother prince Maurice, in 1625, 
greatly distinguished himselL This war was 
brought to a period in 1638, by the peace of Mun~ 
st by which treaty Philip IV. king of Spain, re- 
nounced all claim to the United Netherlands. 

In 165-2 a war broke out between the United Pro- 
vinces and England, which latter country was then 
brought under a republican form of government.-— 
This war was terminated two years after, by a trea- 
ty, in which the states of Holland engaged forever 
to exclude the house of Orange from the stadthoi- 
dership of their province. 

In 1 665 another war was kindled with England, at 
which time that country had regained its regal con- 
stitution ; this war continued until the treaty of Bre- 
da. — The states of Holland and West Friesland then 
passed an edict, by which they abolished the stadt- 
holdership in their province. This was effected by 
the influence of the grand pensionary De Witt.— *> 
When France formed a design to seize on the Span* 



7i 

^shTSetherlands, the V nited 'provinces 'enteredint© 
an alliance with the crowns of 'England and Sweden 
tforthe defence Of those countries: by Which France 
-was, in 1668, compelled to agree to the peace of 
Aix la Chappelle ; but soon took a severe revenge 
%y ; breaking that alliance, and inducing England* 
with some other powers, to enter into a league 
against 'the United Provinces, on which a War ensu- 
ed. In this critical conjecture the republic, in 1672, 
nominated William, the young prince of 'Orange, 
^captain and admiral general : and the populace 
compelled the states of Holland to invest him with 
the j stadtholdership, which two years aiter was de- 
clared hereditary in his family. 

c He was the'fffth stadtholder and the third of that 
name : he married the princess Mary, eldest daugh- 
ter of James II. of England, and became king of 
England. 

In 1678 a peace was concluded with France, at 
«N"imeguen but it was of no long continuance, for in, 
1688, the states supporting their stadtholder in his 
expedition to England, with a fleet and a large bo- 
fly of troops, France declared war against them, 

which continued till'the peace of Ryswicin 1697 

At length, on the death of Charles II. king of Spain, 
in the year i7G0 the Spanish provinces fell to the 
shttre-oftbe house of Austria, and the republic be- 
came involved in a war respecting that succession, 
Triiich continued till the peace of Utrecht, in 1713. 

William died king of England and stadtholder eff 
the United Provinces in 17 02. He appointed John 
William Frizo, prince of Nassau t)ietz, his sote 
heir, who was born 1687, and was drowned in cros- 
sing an arm of the sea at Mardyke, 14th July, 1711. 
Three months after his death his widow was deliv- 
ered of a son, who was christened William, and 
afterwards became stadtholder, fout on the death of 
"William III. that office was laid aside, until, in 1722, 
the province of Guelders elected him their stadt- 
liolder, notwithstanding the remonstrances of "the* 
other provinces. 



In the- general war. which broke* oat in'Etijfope ia 
1756, the Dutch, by taking no part in the quarrel, 
were perhaps the greatest gainers, supplying the- 
belligerent powers with naval and military stores ; 
and when the dispute between Great-Britain and the 
American colonies rekindled the flames ol wv.r, the, 
most essential assistance was procured both to A rue-, 
rica and France, by means of the Dutch setucment 
at St.. Eiistatius, and of the freights bi ought by their 
ships. At length it was discovered, by ihe capture 
<of an American packet, that a treaty: between the 
American states- and the province of Holland was 
actually adjusted* and. that Mr. Laurens, late prt.-ii- 
dent.of the congress, was appointed to reside at Am- 
sterdam in apublic capacity. This occasioned the 
court of London first to cancel all treaties of conir 
merce and alliance which then subsisted between 
thcm,andinDec. lTSOvto-issue a declaration of hos- 
tilities against the republic. The resentment of G. 
Britain proved extremely fatal to the possessions 
and wealth of the Dutch ; the island of St. Eusta- 
tius, with a large fleet of valuable merchant ships, 
fell an easy prey to a naval and military force under 
the. command, of Admiral- Rodney, and General. 
Vaughan ; several homeward bound East India 
ships richly laden, were either taken by the English,, 
or, destroyed. Negafiatnam, on the Coromandel 
coast, and. their chief settlement on, the island of 
Ceylon, were wrested from them. 

Constituuion- — The Seven United Province* 
form seven republics, or independent sovereign 
states, united together for their common defence in 
a close, alliance ; but on condition that all shall en- 
joy their own respective laws, , liberties and privi- 
leges.. As they are confederated and allied to- 
gether, it is requisite .that they should meet, in order 
to consult on the most. proper method of promoting 
their common interest.; but it being impossible for* 
all >the members of the several states to meet to- 
; gethe^e»ch.papticiilar state appoints, sokig person t»» 



represent it ; -and the assembly of these Teprese»~ 
tatives is called « The Assembly of the States Gen* 
•eral." 

The "States Genera!, however, not only make 
■peace or war in their own name, but send and re- 
ceive ambassadors and other public ministers. The 
commander in chief, and all other military officers 
take an oath of fidelity to them? and during a war, 
some of their members, or of the council of state, 
ibllow the army, sit in the council oi war, and their 
consent is requisite previous to any thing of impor- 
tance being undertaken. In time of war the States 
likewise grant licences and protections. 

Thus the States General appear at first view to 
be the sovereigns of the country ; but most of these 
deputies are appointed only for a few years, and 
though they have the power of debating on the most 
important affairs that miry tend to secure or promote 
the preservation or happiness of the state, yet they 
have not power to conclude any point of great con- 
sequence, without previously communicating it to 
their respective provinces, and receiving their ex- 
press consent. This renders the resolutions of the 
republic so tedious and dilatory, as to lire the pa- 
tience of those powers who have affairs to negociate 
■with the states ; but though this slow method of 
proceeding is attended with many inconveniences, 
it has some advantages : it affords leisure for cau- 
tion and mature deliberation, and is sometimes an 
unexceptionable pretence for protracting business, 
and waiting to see what events may turn up. 

In the assembly of the 'tat s General each pro- 
vince presides weekly in its turn, beginning with 
Guelderland, who had the presidency before the 
union; then Holland, Zealand, Utrecht, Friesland, 
Qveryssel and Groningen. He who is first named 
in the deputation of his province presides, and is 
from that ca'led ftie " President of the week." 3 hey 
sit throughout the whole year without adjournment,, 
and their meetings are .always heW at the Hague* 




77 

The highest office in this country is that of Stadt- 
?io!dcr, for he is at the same time governor-general 
of the Seven United Provinces, captain-general, ami 
grand-admiral ; but his power is extremely limited. 
He swears to obey the otates General, and can nei- 
ther make peace nor war without their consent. He 
may come to their assembly, to lay before them any 
business in which the public is concerned ; but has 
not ordinarily a seat in it. He may pardon crimi- 
nals condemned to suffer death, and has the right 
of choosing the magistrates of pities upon a double 
nomination of their respective senates, excepting 
only Amsterdam, with several other important pri- 
vileges. 

The title assumed by the States is that of " High 
and Mighty Lords," or, "The Lords of the States 
General of the United Netherlands ;" and in public 
addresses they are stiled u their High Mighti- 
nesses. " 

The council of state consists of twelve deputies 
of the several provinces, and their office is either 
triennial or during the pleasure of their principals. 
In this council the deputies of Holland have the 
greatest weight, that province being possessed of 
three votes, while none of the others have more thau 
two, and some of them only one. The president- 
ship indeed zs held alternately by the twelve mem- 
bers, each in their week. The title of this council 
is « Noble and Miphty Lords.*' 

[The foregoing- History has reference to the state 
of this country previous to the French Revolution^ 

In the year 179 1 , the emperor of Germany seized 
the Dutch forts in the neighborhood of Stays, and 
demanded the opening of the Scheldt, and ordered 
a ship of his to sail down that river, and upon its 
seizure by the Dutch, lost no time in putting his ar- 
my in motion, with all the appearance of commenc- 
ing an immediate war. This demand of the empe- 
ror was finally settled by the Dutch paying ten mil- 
lions of florins. 



78 - 

An intimate alliance was formed in 1784, between 
tlie court of Versailles and the Hague, which stipu- 
lated that either party should supply the other with 
an auxiliary force upon being attacked. In 1785, the 
internal commotions in the United Provinces great- 
ly attracted the attention of Europe. Two parties, 
for the last two centuries, had been continually 
struggling for superiority. The first of these was 
ihe family of Orange; the second, that of the states 
and of the town councils. 

From the death of the patriotic De Wilts, Bar- 
nevelts, and of William the second, the republic had 
declined, and instead of venerable patriots and distin- 
guished conquerors, Europe had been accustomed 
to regard them as a nation of merchants, pursuing 
wealth, in contempt of every other quality and ac- 
complishment. It is well known that the oligarchy, 
for a number of years previous to 1785, entertained 
the design of excluding the Stadtholder, and of 
stripping him of his disproportionate authority. 

The first efforts of liberty appeared in the city of 
Utrecht. The citizens formed the plan of entirely 
excluding the Stadtholder from any influence in the 
nomination of the four governments; and at the 
same time to communicate to the people a certain 
degree of authority, and to share in the election of 
the. senates and magistrates, as well as several other 
prerogatives of no considerable importance. The 
first measure adopted was to present a petition to 
the states of the province of Utrecht, demanding the 
abolition of the regulation of regency established 
in 1674, which was the foundation of the principal 
part of the obnoxious authority of the Stadtholder 
in the election of the town governments, and by 
which he was accustomed arbitrarily to obtrude 
whatever person he pleased to a seat in the senate. 
Six deputies were appointed by the assembly of the 
magistrates of Amsterdam, to mediate the differen- 
ces which had arisen at Utrecht ; and the projected 
s-eform was at length published, which was certainly 



-intended, as a conciliatory measure : but it Was by- 
no means attended with the success expected. The 
spirit of reform which began at Utrecht, soon com- 
munciated its influence to other towns and provin- 
ces, and the violence of the people, at length, indu- 
ced four of the council committee to send a requisi- 
tion to the Stadtholder, demanding a body of troops 
to restrain the citizens. The compliance of the 
prince of Orange with the demand of troops pro- 
duced the most unbounded spirit of indignation and 
resistance in various parts of the republic. 

The senate urged by the representatives of the 
people shut their gates, brought out the cannon of 
their fortifications, and prepared for resistance. 
The people were every where incensed at the con- 
Suet of the Stadtholder, in endeavouring to silence 
their complaints, by the introduction of an armed 
force. The Stadtholder now called upon the states 
to support him, but finding that he could obtain no 
answer to his remonstrances, he withdrew from the 
Hague, on the 14th September, 1785, with a resolu- 
tion never to return to the pala.ee of his ancestors, 
till he should be reinstated in his prerogatives. 

The troops had now yielded implicit obedience 
to the provincial assembly, and formed a border 
along the province of Utrecht ; and soon afterwards 
the states passed a resolution, depriving the prince 
©f Orange of the situation of captain-general. 

The misunderstanding between the Stadtholder 
and the republic had now (1787) gone so far, that 
it did not appear possible to terminate it in any 
ether way than by the sword. The king of Prussia 
and the court of France, both tried to mediate. The 
refusal of any concession, however, by the prince of 
Orange, brought the conferences to a rapid conclu- 
sion. All the provinces were now nearly unanimous, 
in refusing to yield to the stadtholderY pretensions, 
but Utrecht was still distracted. Hostilities, how- 
ever, soon commenced, when a rencounter happen- 
ed between a party of the prince's forces and t|rc 



m 

Tohmteers of -.Utrecht, on the former attempting to 
secure the post of Vreesnvyck, in which they were 
defeated. In the mean time a terrible riot broke 
out in Amsterdam, in favour of the Stadtholder, 
•which was with much difficulty suppressed by the 
hssociation of the burghers, but not until much da- 
mage had been done to the persons and properties 
of the inhabitants. A general revolt broke out 
among the troops of the provinces ; and for the pur- 
pose of co-operating with the revolters, the prince 
of Orange took the field with his little army, and en- 
camped in the vicinity of Utrecht. While things 
were in this state, the princess of Orange, sister to 
the king of Prussia, a woman of a masculine, active, 
and adventurous character, undertook a journey to 
the Hague, from what motive never distinctly a^ 
peared, except, indeed the courts of Prussia and 
London wished for some more immediate cause ta 
go to war than what had yet occurred. The princes* 
was stopped in her journey by the deputies of the 
patriots, and compelled to return ; upon which she. 
wrote to the states of Holland, charging them witk 
distrusting her intentions, and demanding an ample 
<md public reparation for the insults offered her. 

The military interference of Prussia had already 
been determined upon, and her armies had been 
put in motion. The states of Holland came to the 
resolution of suspending the prince from the func- 
tions of Stadtholder. The duke of Brunswick, who 
commanded the Prussian forces, after several inef- 
fectual remonstrances, at length began his march, 
grhich resembled more a triumph than a campaign. 
All the principal towns submitted upon his appear- 
ance ; the volunteers were disbanded, and the depu- 
ties came to the resolution of restoring the Stadt- 
holder to'all his honors and prerogatives, and of 
inviting him to repair to his former place of resi- 
dence. Amsterdam for some time made an ineffec- 
tual resistance, but was at length obliged to surren- 
der, together with every other place in the hands of 
cbe patriots. 



81 

Thus, after a short campaign, the prince of 
Orange made his triumphant entry at the Hague, 
and in the space of twenty days, 20,000 Prussians 
overcame that republic which had so gallantly and 
successfully contended with Philip the Second for 
its liberties, and Louis the Fourteenth for its inde- 
pendence. 

The revolution which occurred in France, rein- 
spired the hopes of the patriots, and obtained for 
them promises of support and assistance. Upon the 1 
execution of the king of France, the French ambas- 
sador was ordered to depart from the Hague ; war 
was declared against Great-Britain and Holland 
jointly, but the complaints against the latter were 
solely confined to the prince of Orange, for order- 
ing a Dutch squadron to join the English, Sec. &c. 

In 1793, the French sent an army under Dumou- 
rier, to expel the Stadtholder. By the aid of the 
British troops, under the duke of York, the French 
were compelled to retire within their own territo- 
ries. 

In the year 1794, the French having beefi very 
successful against the Austrians, once more com- 
menced their march towards Holland, under the 
command of two of their ablest. generals, Fichegru* 
and Moreau. Sluys was speedily taken, and the 
English repulsed at Boxteh. Oh the 19th of Octo- 
ber, the duke of York was attacked and defeated at 
Puffleck, after which heimmediately retired behind 
the Waal with his army, while the invading army 
prepared to besiege the neighboring garrisons, not- 
withstanding the- advanced season of the year. Mae- 
stficht soon afterwards surrendered, as did Nime- 
guen, on {he 8th of' November, after a short siege ? 
Uiough covered by the army, of the duke of York> 
The discontented" patriots now began to raise their 
heads; and the Stadtholder, finding it impossible t©-- 
resist the impending storm, desired leave to with- 
draw. He shortly after sailed for Engh\nd ? "where; 
Jicjaet with a hospitable reception. 

G 2- 



13 

Is ir&5, a Trench officer, with dispatches U 
general Pichegru, entered Amsterdam, and rep:: 
to the house of the burgomaster. The tree of liberty 
was planted next morning, while De Winter took 
possession of the fleet which he was afterwards des- 
tined to command. A complete revolution was 
thus effected through the Seven United Provinces. 
Pichegru now entered Amsterdam in triumph, and 
was received with transports of joy. The principal 
cities were next occupied by French troops. The 
States General, yielding to imperious necessity, now 
negcciated with the invaders, and issued orders to 
all the governors to deliver up all the fortifications 
on the first summons of the French, who, instead of 
disarming the garrisons, only required them to take 
an oath not to carry arms against the republic 

After the lapse of a short period, a treaty of alii* 
•r.ce, offensive and defensive, was concluded be- 
tween the republic of France and that of the Seven 
United Provinces. The conquest of Holland by the 
French, and the treaty of alliance which speedily 
fallowed this event, produced an entire change in 
cnnection between that country and England. 
War was consequently declared by the latter, and a 
;*reat number of Dutch vessels were detained, and 
all the property of that nation seized in England. 
All the Dutch colonies in Asia were also either ob- 
tained by stratagem, or seized after a short and inef- 
fectual resistance. The capture of the Cape of 
Good Hope, in 1796, produced a considerable sen- 
sation in Holland. 

Holland, after -having undergone a revolution, 
which placed Louis Bonaparte, brother to the French 
Emperor, at the head of its government as king, 
and another by which it became a province of 
France, has now, (1814) recalled its former Stadt- 
fcolder, and invested him with greater privileges 
than ever, with the title of Sovereign of the JSTc^ 
*h+rkinck* 



CHAPTER VI. 



SCOTLAND. 

This country, anciently called Caledonia, lies be- 
tween the 54:h and 59th degree of north lat. and the 
1st and 7th degree of west long, from London. The 
river Teved on the eastern coast, and the Solway 
Firth on the west, determine the limits between 
England and Scotland. The German ocean, with 
the Deucaledonean and the Irish seas, flow around 
its eastern, northern, and western coasts. The isles 
of Orkney and Shetland lie contiguous to its most 
northern extremity - y the Hebrides are adjacent ta 
its north-western shores. 

The highest mountain in Scotland, is Ben Ntvia* 
in Inverness-shire, near Fort William ; on the 
north-east, it is fifteen hundred feet in height. 

The principal rivers in Scotland are the Tay, the 
Clyde, and the Forth. The chief source of the Tay 
is the lake of the same name. Soon after this noble 
river issues from the lake, it is joined by several 
less streams; after passing the beautiful town of 
Perth, it is navigable ; and flews by Dundee, below 
which it forms a grand estuary, or frhh. The mouth 
of the Clyde, below Glasgow, is equally advantage- 
ous to navigation. The falls of the Clyde, nearlra- 
nerk, are objects well deserving the attention of the 
traveller. The Frith of Forth is a remarkable gulph, 
formed by the mouth of that river. The Dee, the 
Don, and the Spey, are other rivers most worthy of 
notice in the norths 

Throughout Scotland there are a gTeat many 
beautiful lakes, but the chief in extent and magni- 
itcence r is that of Loch Lomond, sledded with ro~ 



84 

mantle islands, and adorned with shores of the great- 
est diversity. The depth of this lake, near the bot- 
tom of Ben Lomond, is from sixty to eighty fathoms. 
Loch Leven, in Fife-shire, attracts observation from 
historical fame. Loch Tay is a grand and beautiful 
expanse of water. Loch Ness rivals Loch Tay in 
extent and reputation ; its great depth, being J 39 
fathoms, is the reason that it never freezes ! Both 
sides of Loch Ness are beautifully variegated with 
woods of majestie oaks, birch, hazel, poplar, ash, 
beach, &c. On the north side of this loch, opposite 
to the famous falls of Foyers, stands a remarkable 
mountain, in the Gaelic tongue called, " Maull 
Fournvonny j" on the top of which is a small lake, 
which is frequently covered with ice throughout 
the whole year* and s© deep that it never could be 
fathomed. 

The cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow would do 
honor to any country. In each of these is an old and 
new town, which form a pleasant contrast. 

There are other towns, where trade and industry 
are rapidly increasing ; such as Aberdeen, Dundee, 
Inverness, Perth, Montrose, &c. 

The ancient geographers, as Strabo observes, di- 
vided the then known world into four parts. The 
eastern they called India ; the southern Ethiopia ; 
the western Celtia, and the northern Scythia. In 
the European parts they knew but of two nations 
besides the Greeks, and those were the Celtae and 
the Scythse. Those that inhabited the northward, 
saysS trabo, were called Scythae, and those to the 
west Celtx. The inhabitants of the higher Asia, si« 
tuated above Media, Mount Taurus, and Caucasus, 
were all of them, from the beginning, called Scy- 
thians, and this name was known to the most ancient 
Greeks, though it had not its fiist rise from them, 
but from their dexterity in shooting of arrows, dart- 
ing their javelins, and such like exercises. These 
Scythians were formerly reputed the most ancient 
aatioR in the world, which made Justine, after Tro^ 



83 

gas Pompus, say that they were before the Egyp- 
tians ! who disputed the prerogative of antiquity 
with them, and from whom our antiquarians make 
the Scots to he descended. And nothing can be more 
certain, for, by the sacred scriptures, we find that 
the Scythians came from Magog, the second son of 
Japhet ; whereas the Egyptians were the descend- 
ants of Mizraim, the second son of Shem, and con- 
sequently the former must have the pre-eminence, 
since Japhet was Shem's eldest brother, and the 
first begotten of Noah. Perron has clearly proved, 
that the Gomerians, or the descendants of Gomer* 
were called Sacae, while they continued in the Up- 
per Asia, and that this name was anciently given to 
all the Scythians. 

These Sacae made great incursions towards the 
north part of Asia, and all over .Europe ; and beingf 
in quest of some proper place to fix themselves* 
they took a resolution, after their frequent rovings, 
to settle above the Euxine sea; here they changed 
their names into that of Cumbrians, or Cimbri. Be- 
ing thus settled about Pauius Maeodidus, they com- 
municated their name to that famous strait called 
the Cimbrian Bosphorus. " Now these Cimbrians," 
says bishop Stillingfleet, " having no skill innaviga* 
tion or astronomy, and the woods in the first ages of 
the world impassible, the people still went further 
and further by the river's sides, till at last, finding; 
themselves bounded by the vast mountains in these 
northern countries, and the sea beyond them, they 
sat down there, and in time so replenished those 
parts, that they were desirous to discharge them- 
selves, by sending colonies abroad; to which end 
they accustomed themselves to the sea, and thence 
these Scythians came into the northern parts of Bri- 
tain, where they had the name of Caledonians: — . 
JNow, Ireland being the next adjacent country to 
them, and in their view, it was very natural for them, 
When they were overstocked with people, to send s* 
colony thither, 



86 

To confirm this conjecture of the peopling ©f 
Ireland from the north of Britain, and that both are 
descended from the ancient Scythians, the learned 
Strabo, in his first book, gives the name of Celtae 
and Iberi, or rather that of Celti-Berians and Celti- 
Scythians, to those people who lived towards the 
western parts of Europe ; and from the Celti-Beri- 
ans in Ireland, is that country called Ibernia ; as the 
Scyths being in the north of Britain, was the reason 
of its being called Scotia, or Scotland ; also Alfred, 
in the English translation of Orosius, calls them 
Scytan, and the Germans call both the Scythians 
and the Scots, Scutten. Another strong argument 
for this conjecture, is. the conformity that is to fee 
observed betwixt the customs and manners of the 
ancient Celtae-Scythae and the Scots Highlanders. 
The Celts wore a small cap, or rather a little round 
bonnet, upon their head ; so do the Highlanders. 
They were naturally valiant, inured to hardships, 
agile and expert in all manly exercises ; so are ther 
Highlanders, The arms of the Celtae were a head 
piece, a target, bows and arrows, and a short sword 
like a bayonet ; and some of our Highlanders have 
these arms to this very day. If the Celtae had their 
bards or poets, who sung the illustrious actions cf 
their ancestors, so have the Highlanders. If the 
Celtae, by misfortune, were beaten, they chose ra- 
ther to die with their swords in their hands, than to 
be taken prisoners ; so did the Highlanders in for- 
jner days. The Celtae, when they went to battle, 
encouraged their men to fight by music ; so do the 
Highlanders. The Celtae were abstemious and plain 
in their way of feeding ; so are our Highlanders. 
The Celaet, that they might make their children 
hardy, robust, and healthy, used to wash them in 
cold water ; so do the Highlanders. The language 
of the Celtae is still retained by the Highlanders.— 
And lastly, the Celtae were clothed in filaids, after 
the same manner that the Scots Highlanders are, as 
appears from what is said of them by Caius S\ Afp* 
fielQniusf in tho fourth book of his Epistle.^ 



87 

Tacitus, in the life of his father-in-law Agricola, 
says tnat in his time,ithe northern parts of this island 
■were well inhabited, as will appear by the following 
account that he has given of them. The Brigants, 
who extended as far as the river Tine, were, as he 
saith, subdued by Petilius Cerealis ; the Silures by 
Julius Frontinus ; the Ordoricos hy^falrus Agricola, 
in his first entry upon this province ; but in his 
third campaign he went as far as the river Tay. la 
his fifth, he says he fought with and discovered na» 
tions before unknown ; and in his sixth, he applied 
himself to the conquest of these nations, among 
whom a general insurrection was apprehended, and 
all the passages by land were supposed to be beset ; 
and, therefore, Agricola sent out a fleet to discover 
the country, the very sight of which struck them 
with great terror and amazement— And then, says 
he, the Caledonians armed themselves, and set upon 
the Romans with all the force they could make, and 
falling upon the ninth legion unexpectedly, they 
had totally defeated them if the army had not come 
up very timely to rescue them ; by which good suc- 
cess the R'oman army, being much encouraged, 
cried out to march into Caledonia, that they might s 
at last, come to the utmost part of Britain. But the 
Caledonians, not ascribing this to the valor of the 
Romans, but to the bad conduct of their general, re- 
solved to fight it out bravely ; and having disposed 
of their wives and children in places of safety, after 
several meetings and solemn sacrifices, they entered 
into a strict confederacy to stand to the utmost 
against the Romans. They shortly raised an army 
of thirty thousand men, under the command of Gal- 
gacus, or Galdus, whom historians make the twen- 
ty-first king of Scotland. This excellent prince* 
being ready to give them battle, told them, in his 
masterly oration, so much commended by Justin 
Lipsius, « that they were the last of the Britons, 
there being no nation beyond them ; and he calls 
them the most noble of the Britons, who had never 



88 



beheld the slavery of others," Upon this a bloody 
battle was fought at the Foot of the Grampian hiHsj 
where Galgacus had ten thousand of i is men killed 
and the rest dispersed ; after which Agricola was 
recalled. 

This is the substance of what Tacitus says, con- 
oserning the inhabitants of North Britain From 
Tacitus' account, it is evident that our countrymen 
at that time, were not inconsiderable for their num- 
bers and valor, who were able to oppose the whole 
Roman army, and make their victory so doubtful. 

Rudbeck has undertaken to prove that Ptolomy 
was extremely mistaken in the situation of the 
northern nations, removing them several degrees 
more eastward than they ought to have been, and so 
very much straitening Scandinavia ; which for its 
vast population, Jirandes calls the work-house of 
nations. These European Scythians made fr- quent 
expeditions by sea ; and Tacitus says, particularly 
of the Sueonos, that they were well provided with 
shipping. And also, Olaus Rudbeck, from the Go- 
thetic historians, tells us, " that it was a custom 
for them to go abroad by sea. Therefore, as Stil- 
Hngfleet has justly observed, there can be no im* 
probability that these northern nations should peo- 
ple that part of Britain which lay nearest them." 

From these, and a number of other arguments 
that might be adduced if necessary, it is much more 
probable that the ancient Scyts or Scots first peopled 
Ireland, than that it was peopled from Egypt or 
Spain, as some authors have attempted to prove. 

Agricola, with a numerous army, made another 
attempt to conquer the Caledonians. Upon which, 
Galdus made an excellent and animated speech to 
his soldiers, which concluded thus : * In short, here 
is the general, and here is the army. There you 
see tributes and slavery : here death or liberty— 
Therefore let us consider the glory of our intrepid, 
ancestors, and the fate of our posterity " 

This speech being delivered with the fierceness 



59 

©fa lion, and darting on the Romans like a flash of 
lightning* was immediately seconded with the ac- 
clamations of the whole army. Agricola, on the 
other side, encouraged his men with all the force 
and charms of the Roman eloquence ; and fearing to 
be flanked, he drew out his flank to the utmost 
length, and advanced himself at the head of the foot; 
The battle began at some distance from the main 
body, wherein the Caledonians shewed great art and 
courage, by means of their broad swords and targets, 
with which they warded off the darts of the enemr* 
To prevent which inconveniency, Agricola ordered 
the Batavian and Tungrian cohorts to advance 
against them with their sharp pointed bucklers, 
which rendered their pointless swords useless, and 
so mangled their faces, that they were obliged to 
retire. This advantage being seconded by the emu- 
lation of the other cohorts, the main body of the 
Scots army, which had till now staid upon the tops 
of the mountains, came down, thinking to surround 
the Romans. But Agricola, suspecting this event, 
opposed them with four wings of horsemen, which 
he had reserved in case of any sudden stratagem. 
Then the battle was fought by both parties with the 
utmost valor and fury ; and all the bravest men of 
the Caledonians being slain, Galdus was compelled 
to retire with the remaining part of the army to the 
mountains. In this battle twenty thousand Caledo- 
nians and twelve thousand Romans were slain. Af- 
ter the victory Agricola was called home by the 
emperor Domitian. 

Shortly after his departure, sedition arose in the 
Roman camp. Upon which, the cots and Picts 
raised a new army, under the command of Galdus, 
attacked the Romans, obtained a signal victory over 
them, and pursued them to the country of the Bri- 
gants, where the Romans were forced not only to 
sue for peace, but to content themselves with those 
parts of South Britain wnich they had reduced t© 
the form of a province, leaving the Caledonians i* 



so 

peaceable possession of all the northern parts! Af- 
ter this, Galdus reigned a number of years, in great 
peace and happiness ; and died at Hpiack, which 
was then the principal city in Scotland, in the thir- 
ty-fifth year of his reign, and in the year of our 
£ord one hundred and three. 

To Galdus succeeded his son Luctacus, a prince 
who gave himself up to all manner of excesses and 
debaucheries. In the third year of his reign, hav- 
ing called his counsellors together at Dunstaffage, 
the most wise and grave men among them began to 
exhort him to imitate the virtues of his father, the 
brave and worthy Galdus, and not to suffer such acts 
of cruelty and oppression to be committed as were 
daily done by his authority. But he, instead of tak- 
ing their advice, commanded them to prison. The 
people being informed of this act of arbitrary power, 
assembled and killed their king and all his favor- 
ites. 

Mogallus, or Mogaldus, the grandson of the no- 
ble Galdus by his daughter, succeeded Luctacus — . 
In the beginning of his reign he reformed all the 
abuses that his subjects complained of; and having 
settled all things in gcod order, he raised an army 
to oppose the Romans, who had made several in- 
cursions upon his dominions. In a pitched battle 
he gave the Romans a signal overthrow The Em- 
peror Hadrian being informed of this, sent over Ju- 
lius Severus to oppose Mogaldus. But he being 
suddenly recalled, on account of some insurrection 
in Syria, the emperor himself was obliged to come 
over with an army ; and he being a greatep. lover of 
peace than war, desired rather to retain the bounds 
of his empire than to enlarge them. When he 
came to York, and found the country be} ond it har- 
rassed by war, he resolved to take a particular view 
of the devastation, and marched his army to the ri- 
ycr Tyne ; where being informed by the old soldiers 
that followed Agricola, of the great difficulty he 
would have in conquering the Caledonians, he built 



91 

a wall and trench, in the year one hundred and twen* 
ty-one, extending eighty miles in length, and by it 
excluded the Scots and Picts from the provincial 
Britons. 

According to bishop Elphinston's history now in 
the Bodleian Library, at Oxford, it appears that Fer- 
gus, a native of Ireland, was the first king of Scot- 
land, who was crowned three hundred and thirty 
years before the incarnation of our Saviour. Fergus 
having totally defeated Goilus the king of the Bri- 
tons, on the banks of the river Don, the southern 
and eastern parts of Scotland were called Coil, or 
Kyle, which name the inhabitants of those parts still 
retain in the Highland tongue. 

James VI. succeeded his unfortunate mother in 
Scotland, and on the death of Elizabeth, ascended to 
the throne of England by the title of James 1st. By 
this removal of the court, trade was for a time check* 
ed, agriculture neglected, and the people impover- 
ished. But in the reign of queen Anne, 1706, the 
affairs of Scotland were placed on a more prospe- 
rous footing than ever, by an act of union, which 
consolidated the two kingdoms into one, under the 
title of Great Britain : from this period the Scot- 
tish history is one and the same with England. 

The following remarks, copied from Dr. Mavor's 
Universal History, a work of great merit, will give 
our readers an idea of some of the sanguinary con- 
tests which took place between two brave nations, 
now, and for a century past, happily united. 

From Margaret of A r orway to the death of Bruce, 

Margaret was an infant and in a. foreign country. 
Faction and anarchy distracted the kingdom. Ed- 
ward, one of the most valiant and polite monarch 
that ever sat on the English throne, was ambicious 
of adding Scotland to the dominions of his crown. 

He applied to the court of Rome, to authorise a 
marriage between his son and his grand niece, and 
having gained the consent of Eric, he intrigued 



9% 

with the Scottish nobles to obtain their concurrence. 
Every tfeitig served to favor hi? views, when one fa- 
tui event rendered his well concerted plan entirely 
abortive. 

The child sickened on the passage from Norway, 
was brought on shore in Orkney, and there lan- 
guished and died. 

The consternation of the Scots can be more easi- 
ly imagined th:m described: they saw full before 
them the unhappy prospect of a disputed succes- 
sion, war with England and intestine discord. The 
anarchy attending an interregnum rendered the ex- 
igency pressing ; it was evident, that if the decision 
was left to the claimants, the sword alone must de- 
termine the dispute. In older, therefore, to avoid 
the miseries of a civil war, Edward was chosen um- 
pire, and both parties agreed to acquiesce in his de- 
cree. 

The chief or rather the only competitors for the 
crown were Bruce and Baliol, the descendant* of 
David, earl of Huntingdon, who was brother to the 
two kings, Malcom and William. Bruce was the 
'son, and Baliol the great-grandson of David. 



.— -» 



&ut Bruce was descended of the *"> 

j -v... b ^i, <uio *>a- 

liol of the elder sister. Both had considerable pro- 
perty in England, and each had his adherents in 
STcotland. Edward carrying a great army advanced 
to the frontiers, whither he invited the nobility and 
all the competitors to attend him. He opened the 
renccs by informing them that he was come to 
rmine the right among the competitors to the 
crown, not in virtue of the reference made to him, 
but in quality of superior, and liege lord of the 
'Vcalm. 

lie then produced his proofs of this superiority, 
>.nd required of them an acknowledgment of it. — 
The Scottish deputies, astonished at so new a pre- 
tension, answered only by their silence. One bolder 
than the rest, at last replied — " that, concerning this 
feudal supremacy, no determination could be made 



03 

while the throne should be vacant." "By holy Ed- 
ward, whose crown I wear," said the monarch with 
stern impatience, 

N I will vindicate my just rights, or perish in the nttcmpl." 

At their request he granted them a delay till the ' 
morrow, in order that they might deliberate. Next 
clay the deputies declined giving any answer to a 
question which could only be decided by the whole 
community. In consequence of this remonstrance 
Edward gave them a further delay of three weeks, 
for taking the sense of their constituents. On the 
second of June following, the assembly resumed 
their session. 

Robert Bruce was first to acknowledge the supe- 
riority of Edward, in which he was followed by all 
the competitors. Harriet* on the part of Edward, 
protested, that although now the acknowledged lord 
paramount of Scotland, he did not finally relinquish 
his right to the immediate sovereignty of that king- 
dom. One hundred and four commissioners were 
nominated to examine the several claims against 
the ensuing year. 

Meanwhile, Edward demanded possession of al! 
the fortresses, which were shamefully given up to 
him ; and to crown their disgrace, the prelates and 
barons present swore fealty to the king of England ; 
and the like oath was required of those who were- 
absent. 

The commissioners, upon examination, gave their 
verdict in favor of Baliol, who was crowned accord- 
ingly, and did homage to Edward ; but this royal 
vassal was not to hold the sceptre long. Edward 
pretended to rule in Scotland over king and subject 
by English laws. Baliol remonstrated. Edward 
summoned him to the bar of his tribunal as a pri- 
vate person. Baliol, though a prince of gentle dis- 
position, returned into Scotland, provoked at this 
usage, and resolved at all hazards to vindicate hia 
liberty : with this view, he concluded a secret treaty 
with France. The niece of that king was given }» 
u 2 



93 

marriage to the son of Baliol, and they mutually en- 
gaged to assist each other against Edward. 

Notwithstanding this treaty Philip de Valois made 
a truce with Edward, and left the Scots to bear the 
brunt of the English armament by sea and land. 

The war commenced by an invasion of England. 
The Highlanders ravaged all the country as far as. 
Carlisle, to which they laid siege. Edward attacked 
Berwick : he found it well garrisoned and defended., 
We arc told that in a sally the garrison burnt eigh- 
teen of his ships, and put the crews to the sword.— 
But Edward's land army were at the gates ; they 
assaulted, took, and sacked the town, massaereing 
its inhabitants without distinction. 

Elated with success, Edward dispatched an army- 
against Dunbar. The Scots hastened to its relief, 
a fatal battle was fought, in which the Scots lost 
10,000 men. Dunbar was taken. Its fall was fol- 
lowed by that of Rosburgh. Edinburgh and Sterling 
opened their gates to the enemy - r and in a short 
space all the southern parts were subdued. 

, Still) however, might a valiant prince have found 
resources : but the feeble and timed Baliol, dis- 
gusted with his own subjects, overawed by the En- 
glish, hastened to make his submission, and made a 
solemn and irrevocable resignation of his crown in- 
to the hands of Edward. He was carried prisoner 
to England, and committed to the tower.. Earl 
Warrene was left governor of Scotland : the other 
officers were all entrusted to England. 

Among the barbarous expedients devised to hum- 
ble and reduce Scotland fee ever, was that of de- 
stroying, or carrying away every record, every mo- 
"nument of national history or national independence, 
Robert Bruce had contributed to the overthrow of 
Baliol, in hopes of advancing his own preferment. 
When he humbly mentioned his claims to Edward, 
«$ What/* said the king to him, *« have we nothing 
else to do but to conquer kingdoms for you ?" The 
temptations were too strong for the virtue of the 



93 

English monarch to: resist* and -he determined t® 
hold fast what his arms and policy had gained. 

National animosities, and the insolence of victory, 
now conspired to render the English government 
intolerable to the Scots, who bore with the utmost 
impatience a yoke to which, from the earliest peri- 
od of their monarchy, they had been unaccustomed. 
Warrene retiring into England, on account of his 
bad state of health, left the administration in the 
hands of Ormesby, who was appointed justiciary of 
Scotland, and Crepingham, who held the office of 
treasurer. With these there remained a small mi- 
litary force to secure their precarious authority. 

At this distressing period (1296) arose a true he- 
ro, a disinterested patriot, in the person of Sir Wil- 
liam Wallace, whose magnanimous soul could no 
longer brook to see his country torn by factions, de- 
serted by its chiefs, and oppressed by foreigners. — • 
Robust, active and brave, he stept forth to reunite 
the friends of liberty under his banner. 

The lustre of his birth is lost in that of his ac- 
tions : the rapidity of his victories, and the frequen- 
cy of his exploits, have disordered the chronology 
of his history. Many of his noblest actions were, 
no doubt, performed before his reputation found ac- 
cess to the annals of his country. 

In May 1297 he made a bold attempt to surprise 
Ormesby, the English judiciary, then holding a 
court at Scone. Ormesby, with difficulty, escaped 
to England. He was soon followed by all the offi- 
cers of Edward, so that Wallace and his men, with 
an astonishing rapidity, became masters of Lanerk, 
Dundee, Foriar, Brekin, and Montrose ; the castle 
of Durotters, reckoned impregnable, received a 
Scottish garrison ; and Aberdeen being set on fire 
by the English, w^s abandoned to the patriotic 
band. 

Every new enterprise added to the glory of his 
name, and to the number of his followers, till at last 
he found himself at the head of a mimerous army. 



96 

Well aware that they should meet with no meref 
at the hands of Edward, who would treat them as 
rebellious subjects, the Scots were rendered despe- 
rate, and, by necessity, forced to the cruel expedi- 
ent of putting to the sword every Englishman that 
they found in arms. King Edward, then in France,, 
ordered the earl of Surrey to suppress this daring 
insurrection. An army of forty thousand, led on 
by lord Henry Percy, marched against Wallace. — 
They found him advantageously posted near Irwin. 

But the jealousy and discontent of the nobles 
ruined their cause ; they saw with envy the grow- 
ing reputation and authority of a private gentleman ; 
confusion and irresolution ensued ; in short, the 
most eminent made their submission "and obtained 
their pardon from Edward's officers. Wallace and 
his faithful band scornfully refused to follow his fic- 
kle associates, declaring they would never lay down 
their arms till the country was restored to liberty 
and independence. They even harrassed the rear 
of the English army, but were repulsed with the 
loss of a thousand men. 

Still undaunted and unsubdued, Wallace retreat- 
ed northwards, where he was joined by new adhe- 
rents. 

When Warrene advanced to Stirling, he found 
Wallace encamped in excellent order on the oppo- 
site bank of the Forth. Willing to try again the 
same arts of negociation, he sent two friars to Wal- 
lace to offer conditions of peace. 

" Go," said Wallace, "tell your masters we came 
not here to treat, but to assert our rights, and to set 
Scotland free , let them advance, they will find us 
prepared." 

Indignant at this defiance, Crepingham, at the 
head of his forces, prepared to cioss the river by a 
wooden bridge that was laid over it. Wallace slow- 
ly led down his troops, and advanced to meet them ; 
but ere half the army had passed, he attacked them 



97 

fccfore they could form ; put them to rout, and ob- 
tained a complete victory. 

This success merited to Wallace the title of 
Guardian ; but he still acknowledged the captive 
king Baliol. Famine, the unavoidable consequen- 
ces of so long a civil war, now threatened Scotland. 
Wallace led his troops into England, in order to 
subsist at the expence of the enemy; and having 
met with no opposition, returned in triumph, loaded 
with booty. 

This was to be the last of Wallace's successful 
enterprises. 

Ring Edward returned from France, and marched 
into Scotland at the head of seventy thousand men. 
Nothing could save the Scots but an entire union 
among themselves. The elevation of Wallace was 
still an object of envy to ths nobles. Sensible of 
their discontent, the patriotic hero voluntarily re- 
signed his authority. 

The chief command now devolved on the stew- 
ard of Scotland and the cumyn of Badenock. Wal- 
lace only retained one corps that refused to fight 
under «ny «tj^ r wi c?t ^ he English army cam© 
up with them near Falkirk. 

The Scottish bowmen were soon driven off the 
field by the English archers, who surpassed those 
of other nations. The pikemen, cooped up in their 
entrenchments, were so galled by the arrows, that 
they were thrown into disorder ; in short, the whole 
Scottish army was broken and dispersed with great 
slaughter. Wallace's military skill and presence 
of mind enabled him to keep his troops entire, and, 
retreating behind the Carron, he marched in safety 
along its banks. 

Young Bruce, then serving in the English army, 
desired a conference with him from the opposite 
side of the river. He represented to him the folly 
of continuing so bloody and fruitless a contest with a 
powerful monarch, and endeavoured to bend the in- 
flexible spirit of Wallace to submission, insinuating 



98 

that nothing but ambition could 'prompt him to con> 
tinue in arms. 

The hero disclaimed any ambitious -views, but 
reproached Bruce for his degeneracy and indolence. 
" To you,'* said he, " are owing the miseries of 
your country. You left her overwhelmed with woes, 
and 1 undertook the cause you betrayed : a cause 
which I shall maintain as long as I breathe ; while 
you live with ignominy, and court the chains of a 
foreign tyrant." 

These sentiments sunk deep into the mind of 
Bruce, and at last produced that heroism which 
made him a worthy successor of Wallace, in the 
deliverance of his country. 

After this we find no trace of Wallace in Scot- 
tish historians for two years. Some pretend that he 
went over to France ; others, that he still ranged 
among the hills : be that as it may, Edward, with 
much ado, completed at last the conquest of Scot- 
land, without being able to seize or subdue the pa- 
triotic knight. 

Disappointed in all his schemes for that purpose, 
he did not disdain to stoop to treachery — Sir Wil- 
liam was basely betrayed by a traitor in whom he 
trusted, and was sent in chains to London ; here he 
was tried as a rebel against a sovereign whom he 
had never acknowledged, and whose power was 
founded on tyranny and injustice. All this and 
more was urged by Wallace in his defence : his re- 
monstrances were disregarded, and he was con- 
demned to suffer the death of a traitor, which sen- 
tence was put in execution, to the indelible disgrace 
of Edward's memory. This was the unworthy fate 
of a hero who, through a course of many years, had 
with signal conduct, intrepidity, and perseverance, 
defended the liberties of his native country against 
a public and oppressive enemy. 

We have been more particular in the history of 
this remarkable character} than our limits would ad- 
mit of in general. 



99 

A person ? of no less illustrious fame, now claims 
our attention. Robert Bruce, the restorer of the 
Scottish throne, and father of a new race of kings, 
was tne grandson of the competitor for the crown. 
He was in the bloom of life, when he resolved to 
quit Edward's court to make good his family's 
claims. His motions were watched with a jealous 
eye ; yet he contrived to escape, and to join the 
Scots patriots at Lochmaben. 

Among these was Cumyn, a man of great power, 
but in whom Bruce could put no trust. Historians 
do not agr e as to the causes of this difference : but 
the first act of Bruce was to murder Cumyn, which 
he did in a church at Dumfries, by stabbing him 
with a dagger. This violation of the sanctuary, and 
at ie*st ol the forms of justice, was what afterwards 
drew down on his head the anathemas of the church. 
Obliged now to have recourse to arms, he hastened 
to collect what forces he could, attacked the En- 
glish, who were unprepared, and having got pos- 
session of several castles, he was solemnly crowned 
at Scone. 

King Edward lost no time to cheek this new in- 
surrection. He dispatched immediately Aymer de 
Valence into Scotland, who falling in with Bruce at 
Mithven, attacked him, and, notwithstanding a most 
vigorous resistance, totally defeated the Scottish 
army. 

Bruce fled, almost unattended, to the western 
dsles, where he wandered about for some time in 
great distress 

Opportunely for his cause, Edward died on his 
way to Scotland, whither he was again conducting a 
numerous army. Thus delivered from a powerful 
enemy, Bruce's party daily increased. He was 
soon master of the western highlands, and after a 
continued train of success, forced Edward II. to a 
truce. 

On the renewal of the war, Edward marched into 
Scotland with an army so powerful, that Bruce found 



let 

it prudent to retire to the mountains- The English 
•were, however, obliged to retreat, partly for want 
cf provisions, and partly on account of discontents 
at home. The year following, Edward assembled 
his whole forces, amounting, say the Scottish histo- 
rians, to one hundred thousand men. 

Robert's army did not exceed thirty thousand 
men ; but they were men of tried valour. He en- 
camped beside a rivulet, called Bannock-burn, near 
Stirling. 

The castle being in the hands of the English, had 
been long besieged by the Scots. Edward was de- 
termined to relieve it. He arrived in sight in the 
evening, and immediately an engagement took place 
between the two bodies of cavalry. 

In this action Robert encountered Henry de Bo- 
hun, and with one stroke of his battle-axe cleft his 
adversary to the chine. From this favorable event- 
the Scots prognosticated a happy issue to the battle 
of the ensuing day. All night the troops rested on 
their arms. About dawn the English advanced to 
the attack, the earl of Gloucester led the van, and 
impetuously rushed on the foe : the cavalry which 
he commanded, fell among covered pits which 
Bruce had prepared, and were put into disorder. 
Gloucester himself was overthrown and slain. Ran- 
dolph on the left wing of the Scots, and Douglass 
and Walter Stewart in the centre, soon brought into 
action the corps under their command. 

The English archers greatly overmatched the 
Scots. But five hundred light horsemen, detached 
under Sir Robert Keith, armed with battle-axes, 
dispersed or hewed them to pieces. All this while 
a great part of the English forces were prevented 
by the disadvantages of the ground, from sharing in 
the engagement Bruce, with the Scottish reserve, 
now appeared in the front of the battle, and at the 
same moment the English beheld on the heights 
what they took to be a fresh reinforcement arriving 
to the aid of the Scots. These were the attendants 



101 

xti the camp, whom Bruce had Ordered td appear L> 
battle array, with colours flying. Panic-struck at 
the sight, the English gave way, and soon betook 
themselves to flight. The Scots pursued and made 
a great slaughter. King Edward with difficulty 
escaped to Dunbar ; but the flower of his nobility 
fell on that day, and the liberty of Scotland tri- 
umphed. 

This memorable day did not however restore 
peace : continual inroads were made on England, 
and even an attempt on Ireland, by the warlike fol- 
lowers of Bruce. 

But first a parliament was convened at Ayr, 
where the rights of that hero to the crown were 
fully acknowledged, and the succession established. 
The princess Margery, presumptive heir of Ro- 
bert, was given in marriage to Walter Stewart ; and 
their son Robert was afterwards king, and the first 
of the Stewart race. 

Edward Bruce, chosen chief of the expedition 
into Ireland, was received asking by the Irish. Re- 
inforced repeatedly by his brother, he had pene- 
trated to the walls of Dublin; famine alone com- 
pelled him to retreat, and to risk his all on the fate 
of one day ; he fell a victim to his ardent valour, 
and was found among the dead at the battle of Oun- 
dalk. 

Hostilities were still carried on between the ScotB 
And English with unremitting ardour The pope 
thought himself called upon to put a stop to the effu- 
sion of human blood : he therefore proclaimed a 
truce, A D. 1318, but his proclamation was not at- 
tended to. 

Nor was any truce attended to till 1323 Then 
the papal legates were admitted into Scotland,where 
they pronounced sentence of excommunication 
against Bruce and the Scots. 

The barons justified their defence of their liber- 
ties ; their remonstrance had its effect at Rome.-— 
I 



102 

The holy father felt that Edward had great share of 
the blame in the calamities of the war. 

H was however again renewed, and the truce of 
thirteen years was uot concluded till after two cam- 
paigns more. During this suspension of hostili ties, 
Robert obtained absolution from the sentence of ex- 
communication, and crushed a conspiracy at home : 
but on the deposition of king Edward, he renewed 
the war, wrested at length from England a solemn 
renunciation of all claims on Scotland, and secured 
a peace by marrying his son David to Han, sister of 
Edward III. 

Thus ended the glorious conflict of Bobert Bruce 
for the independence of his crown, after a reign of 
^wenty-four years. 

ri concise view of the firincijval towns, rivers, and 
most ancient families, in all the shires or counties 
in Scotland. 

The shire of Merse— principal towns, Dunse and 
Lauder: rivers, the Tweed, Whitter, and Ednem. 
The most ancient families are, the Humes, Gor- 
dons, Spotswoods, and Wedderburns. 

Roxburgh -shire. — towns, Zedburg, Kelso, and 
Melross : rivers, Tweed, Teviot, Zed, and Eal : an- 
cient families, Douglasses, Scotts, Riddles, Elliots, 
and Turnbulls. 

Dumfries. — towns, Dumfries and Annan : most 
ancient families, Maxwells, Gracies and Hunters : 
riversjNeth and Loch'ar. This country abounds with 
excellent timber, particularly the wood of Drumla- 
nick, of good oak, &c. 

Wigton, or Galloway-shire. — chief towns are, 
Kirkcudbright and Wigton. This country is wa- 
tered by five rivers, the Ne, Dee, Ken, Cree, and 
LefFee. The most ancient families here are, the 
Maxwells, Armstrongs, Clendennings, Irvins, 
Bejls, Christies, Johnstons, Maokees, M'Donaids, 
and Brodies, 

Kyie,or Ayr-shire. — The principal town ir- tNis 
county is Ayr. This town is famous for its antiqui- 



103 

ties it Is thought to be the same which Ptolomy 
calls Vidogora. The most ancient families here 
are, the Campbells, Hyslops, Cunninghams, Walla- 
ces, Dunbars, and Murdochs. The other towns of 
note here are, Irwin and Largis. The latter is fa- 
mous for the total defeat of the Norwegians by king 
Alexander III. 

Renfrew — Principal towns are, Renfrew, Paisley, 
Greenock, and Port Glasgow Most ancient fami- 
lies, the Stewarts, Cathcarts, Shaws, and Maxwells. 
Rivers, ftlackcart, Whitecart, and Grise. 

Danefk, or Clydesdale. — The principal town 
Iiere is Glasgow, situated in lat. 55> 52, long. 4, 5 I, 
from London ; a populous and elegant city, and for 
wealth and commerce is the second in the nation ; 
it is pleasantly situated on the banks of the Clyde. 
The most anciknt families in this country are, the 
Douglasses, Buchanans, Thomsons, Ramsays, and 
Hunters. Principal river, the Clyde, which is navi- 
gable from Glasgow to the ocean. 

Dunbarton. — The principal town in this county 
is Dunbarton. The most ancient families are the 
Campbells, Napiers, Hamiltons, Newlands, and 
Buchanans. In this county the famous poet, histo- 
rian, and wit, George Buchanan, was born. The 
town of Kilpatrick here, is famous for being the 
birth place of St. Patrick, arch-bishop of Armagh, 
and the apostle of the Irish nation. 

Linlithgow, or West-Lothian. — The 'principal 
town is Linlithgow. The most ancient families are, 
the Hamiltons, Hays, Seatons, Scotts and Douglas- 
ses. 

Stirling. — The principal city here, is Stirling, 
The principal rivers are, the Forth, Avon, Carron, 
and Bannockburn. The most ancient families are, 
the Livingstons, Bruces, Murray s, Gardners, Stir- 
lings, and Grahams. 

Clackmanan-shire. — The principal town Clack- 
ma nan. 

The shire of Fife.. — The principal town here, is 
Saint Andrews, so called from the relicts of rhe 



10* 

apostle $t # Andrew, whose bones are said to have 
setn brought hither from Patros in Peloponesus, in 
the year S68. The other towns here are Cooper, 
Dunfermline, Kinross, Kinghorn, and Innerkeith- 
ing The principal rivers here are Eden and Le- 
vin. The most ancient families here are the Ers- 
kines, ft ilmamocks, Lyons, Sinclairs, Gibsons, Bar- 
clays, Hopes, Forbesses, Woods, Colvils, Bruces, 
and Lindsays. 

Perth ~~The principal town here is Perth, plea- 
aar.tly situated on the banlts of the river Tay. D un- 
ite id, another town in this county, is thought to 
Jiave been the principal seat of the ancient Caledo- 
nians. Scoon, in this county also, is the place where 
the kings of Scotland were crowned. The principal 
rivers here are, Tay, Allan, Earn. The most fc an- 
cient families are the Campbells, Ruthvens, Blairs, 
Stuarts, and Drummonds. 

Angus-shire, or Fairfax. — The principal towns 
here are, Dundee, Brechin, and Forfafc. The most 
ancient families, the Erskines, Kings, Mauls, Grays, 
Ogilvies, and Hunters- 

Merns, or Kincardin. — The principal towns are 
Kincardin and Stonhive. The most ancient families, 
the Keiths, Duncans, Mavors, Strahans, Burnets, 
■spd Smiths. 

Aberdeen-shire contains Mar, Brise, Glenmick, 
Strathdee, part of Buchan, 8cc. It is bounded by 
Gowry and Merns on the south ; by Buchan on the 
north j Perth and Inverness-shire on the west, and 
the German ocean on the east- The chief towns 
are New and Old Aberdeen ; the new town, in point 
jf trade* population, and elegance, is justly deemed 
the third town in Scotland. In each of these towns 
as a well endowed seminary, the one called King's 
;ollege,and the other Mareschal college ; both are 
called the University of Aberdeen. Many gentle- 
men eminent for literary and scientific abilities, 
have been educated at this university. Among 
others mi^iit be mentioned, Doctors Kemp and 
Wilson, and James Bardie, A. M. the two for- 



£0* 

mer were for many years distinguished professors of 
mathematics and languages, in Columbia Col- 
lege, in the city of New-York, and the latter au- 
thor of several useful publications. The principal 
rivers in Aberdeenshire are the Dee or Don ; two 
of the richest rivers in Britain for salmon, 

Aberdeen-shire abounds with all the necessaries 
of life ; the mountainous part of it affords good tim- 
ber and pasturage, and the level part excellent 
wheat and other small grains. The most ancient 
families here are the Gordons, Erskines, Hays, 
Keiths, Ogilvies, Seatons, and' Abercrombies. 

The shire of Inverness formerly contained all the 
country from the Lochleven to the Orkney islands ; 
it comprehends, at present, Lochabar, Badenock, 
Strathspey, Stratherick, Strathglass, and Glenmor- 
rison. It is bounded by the Brae of Mar and Athol 
on the south; by Argyle-shire on the west; by 
Ross and Murray Firth on the north. The length 
of it from Inverness to Inverloky is 50 miles. Prin- 
cipal town is Inverness, which is situated on the 
south side of the river Ness, and has a commodious 
harbour There was formerly a strong castle here, 
wherein the kings of Scotland resided. The most 
ancient families here are the Mackenzies, Erasers,* 
Mackintoshes, Macdonalda, Grants, M'LeodSj 
M'Phersons, and Camerons. 

Bamf-shire. — The principal towns in this shire 
are, Bamf, Gullen^ Frazerburg, arid Keith. The 
most ancient families here are the Cummings, Gor- 
dons, and Abercrombirsv There is a cave in this 
country, where the water that drops from it turns 
into stone, as soon as it reaches the ground; 

Murray -shire, or Nearne. — The principal towns 
here are, Elgin, Foress, Nearne, and Crommertie. 
The largest rivers are the Sp ey, IN earne, and Fin- 

* The Frasers emigrated thither from France? 
aims hundred year> ago. 



19& 

sjorfl } t&e ftrs$ njeutioned is the most rapid river ijf 
Europe. The most ancient families here are, the 
bodies, M'Jntoshes, Roses, D unbars. Grants, Stvu- 
arts, Erasers, and IVf'Kensies. 

Argyle-shire is bounded on the north by Locha- 
ber : on the east by Lenox ; on the west by the 
ocean ; and the firth of Clyde on the south. The 
principal towns in Argyle-shire are Inverary, Dun- 
staffnage, and Cambjetown. There are a number of 
rivers and lakes in this county ; the principal lake 
is Loch£ne, w&ch is about sixty miles in length an4 
four in breadth : this loch is famous for the great 
quantity of excellent herring which are caught in it. 
Lochow is a fresh water loch, twenty-four mile? 
long and one broad ; in it there are twehe islands; 
and from this loch the family of Argyle had their 
ancient title of Lairds of Lochow. The most an* 
cient families in this shire are the Campbells, La- 
monds, Macdonalds, MacDougals, Maelntyres 9 
MacQueens, WfccEuens and MacFarlanes* 

Sutherland'Shire.~Chief town here is Dornock. 
Bunrobin castle, the principal seat of the earl of 
Sutherland, is situated is this country, upon a mote 
»ear the sea* The most ancient families here are, 
the Sutherlands, Mackays, Gordons, Glanduns or 
Ciunns, Murrays, and Grays. This county in gene- 
ral is fruitful in corn and pasturage ; and abounds- 
with fish, fowl, sheep, black cattle, and deer. The 
Tallies are very pleasant and well inhabited ; and 
what proves the climate and soil to be much better 
than could be expected, from its northerly situa- 
ticnj IS) that saffron grows very well here and comes 
to maturity. Here are many commodious harbours 
for exporting the commodities of the county, which 
are corn, salt, sajmon, beef> wool, hides, butter, 
cheese, tallow &c. All that tract of land lying be- 
tween Portnecouter and Dunsbay, is called Caith- 
ness. The principal towns in Qaithnes are, Weik 
and Thurso. At Dunsbay-head in this. BtOJTt^^eftS^ $f 
Caithness is the, ferry tQ QrKney. 



107 
CHAPTER VII. 

MASONIC ARTICLES * 

ON MASONRY. 

Freemasonry comprehends within its circle eveiy 
branch of useful knowledge and learning, and 
stamps an indelible mark of preeminence on its ge- 
nuine professors, which neither chance* power, nor 
fortune can bestow. When its rules are strictly 
observed, it is a sure foundation of tranquility* 
amidst the various disappointments of life ; a friend 
that will not deceive, but will comfort and assist, in 
prosperity and adversity; a blessing that will re- 
main with all times, circumstances, and places, and 
to which recourse may be had wken other earthly 
comforts sink into disgrace. 

Freemasonry gives real and intrinsic excellency 
to man, and renders him fit for the duties of society. 
It strengthens the mind against the storms of life* 
paves the way to peace, and promotes domestic hap- 
piness. It meliorates the temper and improves the 
understanding. It is company in solitude, and gives 
vivacity, variety, and energy to social conversation, 
In youth, it governs, the passions, and employs, use- 
fully, our most active faculties ;. and in age, when 
sickness, imbecility, and disease, have benumbed 
the corporeal frame, and have rendered the union 
of soul and body almost intolerable, it yields a fu*id 
»f comfort and satisfaction. 

These are its general advantages ; ta enumerate 

• Chiefly selected from the « Masonic Magazine" 
—An excellent work. 



las 

them separately would be an endless labor ; It may 
be sufficient to observe, that he who cultivates this 
mystic science, and acts agreeably to the character 
of a freemason, ;has within himself the spring and 
support of every social virtue ; a subject of contem- 
plation, that enlarges the mind, and expands all its 
powers ; a theme that is inexhaustabie, ever new? 
and always interesting. 



ADVANTAGES OF MASONRY. 

From the commencement of the world, we may 
trace the foundation of masonry. Ever since sym- 
metry began, and harmony displayed her charms, 
our order has had a being. During many ages, and 
in many different countries, it has flourished. No 
art, no science preceded it. In the dark periods of 
antiquity, when literature was in a low state, and 
the rude manners of our forefathers withheld from 
them that knowledge we now so amply share, ma- 
sonry diffused its influence. Thus science unveiled, 
arts arose, civilization took place, and the progress 
of knowledge and philosophy gradually dispelled 
the gloom of ignorance and barbarism. Govern- 
ment being settled, authority was given to laws, and 
the assemblies of the fraternity acquired the patron- 
age of the great and the good, while the tenets cf 
the profession diffused unbounded utility. 

Abstracting from the pure pleasures which arise 
from friendship, so wisely constituted as that which 
subsists among masons, and which it is scarcely 
possible that *ny circumstance or occurrence caa 
erase, masonry is a science confined to no particular 
country, and extends over the whole terrestrial 
globe. Wherever arts flourish, there it flourishes 
too. Acid to this, that by secret and inviolable signs 
carefully preservedamong the fraternity, it become* 



aw 

an universal language. Hence many advantages 
are gained : The distant Chinese, the wild Arab, 
and the American savage, will embrace a brother 
Briton ; and wilt know, that beside the common 
ties of humanity, there is still a stronger obligation 
to induce him to kind and friendly offices. The spi- 
rit of the fulminating priest will be tamed ; and a 
moral brother, though of a different persuasion, en- 
gage his esteem : for mutual toleration in religious 
opinions is one of the most distinguishing and va- 
luable characteristics of the craft. As all religions 
teach morality, if a brother be found to act the part 
of a truly honest man, his private speculative opi- 
nions are left to God and himself. Thus through 
the influence of masonry, which is reconcilable to 
the best policy, all those disputes which imbitter 
life, and sour the tempers of men, are avoided ; 
while the common good, the general object is zea^ 
lously pursued. 

From this view of our system* its utility must be 
sufficiently obvious. The universal principles of 
the art unite, in one indissoluble bond of affection* 
men of the most opposite tenets, of the most distant 
countries, and of the most contradictory opinions ; 
so that in every nation a mason will find a friend* 
and in every clime a home. 

Such is the nature of our institution, that in the 
lodge, union is cemented by sincere attachment, and 
pleasure is reciprocally communicated in the cheer- 
ful observance of every obliging office. Virtue, the 
grand object in view, luminous as the meridian sun, 
shines refulgent on the mind, enlivens the heart, 
and heightens cool approbation into warm sympa- 
thy and cordial affection. 



110 

MASONIC CHARACTER OF 
WASHINGTON. 

By the M. W. G. M. Bigelow, of Massachusetts 

Having already contemplated such a variety of 
distinguishing features in this great and amiable 
character, does it Btill admit of addition ? Is there 
room in the portrait for another trace of the faithful 
pencil, that will increase its beauty ? Yes, my bre- 
thren, to us another and no less interesting view re- 
mains. Animated with a generous philanthropy^ 
our deceased brother early sought admission inte 
our ancient and honorable fraternity, at once to ena- 
ble him to cherish with advantage this heavenly 
principle, and enlarge the sphere of its operation. 
He cultivated our art with sedulous attention, and 
never lost an opportunity of advancing the interest 
or promoting the honor of theCraft. While comman- 
der in chief of the American revolutionary army, he 
countenanced the establishment and encouraged the 
labors of a travelling lodge among the military. He 
wisely considered it as a school of urbanity, well 
calculated to disseminate those mild virtues of the 
heart, so ornamental to the human character, and 
so peculiarly useful to correct the ferocity of sol- 
diers, and alleviate the miseries of the war. The 
cares of this high office engrossed too much of his 
time to admit of its engaging in the duties of the 
chair ; yet he found frequent opportunities to viiit 
the lodge, and thought it no derogation from his dig- 
nity there to stand on a level with the brethren. 
True to our principles on all occasions, an incident 
once occurred which enabled him to display their 
influence to his foes* A body of American troops 
in some successful rencounter with the enemy, pos- 
sessed themselves, among other booty, of the jew- 
els and furniture of a British travelling lodge of ma- 
sons. Thia property was directed by the cwaamaD* 



ill 

clerin chief to be returned under a flag of true to 
its former proprietors^ accoinp^nied with a message, 
purporting that the Americans did not make war 
upon institutions of benevolence. 

Of his attachment to our order in general, you my 
respected brethren, of the most worshipful grand 
lodge of this commonwealth, have had personal 
knowledge. His answers to your repeated addres- 
ses breathe throughout the spirit of brotherly love ; 
and his affectionate return of thanks for the book of 
constitutions which you presented him, and for the 
honor, as he was pleased to consider it, which you 
did him in the dedication, must be evidence highly- 
satisfactory of the respectful estimation in which he 
held you. The information received from our bre- 
thren, who had the happiness to be members of the 
lodge over which he presided many years, and of 
which he died the master, furnishes abundant proof 
of his persevering zeal for the piosperity of the in- 
stitution. Constant and punctual in his attendance, 
scrupulous in his observance of the regulations of 
the lodge, and solicitous at all times to communi- 
cate light and instruction, he discharged the duties 
of the chair with uncommon dignity and intelligence 
in all the mysteries of our art. Nothing can more 
highly conduce to the prosperity and honor of ma- 
sonry, than a successful imitation of his bright ex- 
ample. It cannot fail of its effect upon our brethren 
in its immediate neighborhood in the south ; they 
will beautify their columns. And shall we be out- 
done in zeal ? Placed geographically in the east, in 
a quarter of the Union from which the nation has 
been accustomed to learn wisdom, it should be bur 
peculiar care to diffuse light throughout the temple 
of masonry. As it is known that we shared largely 
in the esteem and affection of our deceased brother, 
it is easy to perceive that our good conduct will it- 
self be an encomium on his memory. We see be- 
fore us, among the sad emblems of ?ortality,noton- 
Jy the sword which in this neighborhood he drew 



lis 

In defence ©f his country, but also the very attire 
vrbic he has often worn as a maso:> How devoutly 
is it to be wished, that these striking memorials 
may stimulate us to a noble emulation ; that, like 
the' mantle of Elijah, they may inspire us with an 
unalterable attachment to virtue and benevolence i 
This day witnesses to the world in what veneration 
we hold the memory of departed greatness : let 
siot the solemnity be without its appropriate effect 
upon ourselves. While with funeral pomp and 
masonic honors, we celebrate the obsequies of our 
deceased brother, while we bend with anguish over 
the urn which contains a part of what was mortal in 
him, let us like him remember, that we are animated 
with a heavenly flame, which the chill damps of 
death cannot extinguish ; like him resolve to square 
Bur actions by the rule of rectitude, persevere in 
the line of our duty, and restrain our passions within 
the compass of propriety, knowing that the all-see- 
ing eye cf our Supreme Grand Master above, conti- 
nually observes us : That when we shall have per- 
formed the task assigned us here, we may like him 
be called from our work to those refreshments which 
alone can satisfy our immortal desires : That when 
we put off this earthly clothing, we may be arrayed 
with the garments of glory, put on the jewels of 
Jtaht, and shine forever in the sublime arch above. 



113 



AN ADDRESS 

Delivered he/ore Holland Lodge, December 24, 
1793, by De Witt Clinton, Master of said 
Lodge, on the evening of his installation. 

Brethren, 

There is a propensity in the human mind to as- 
cribe to the remotest antiquity the invention of 
those arts and the foundation of those institutions 
which meliorate the condition of humanity. Under 
the influence of this bias, some have considered our 
Order as nearly co-eval with the human race.— - 
Others, with more propriety, have ascribed its ori- 
gin to the building of Solomon's Temple, and traced 
its progress from that aera to the times of the Cru- 
sades, when it is said to have been cultivated with 
peculiar felicity. Without discussing, v.ith any 
degree of critical nicety, these and the various other 
opinions advanced on this subject, it is sufficient to 
obterve that our traditions reach back into the most 
distant regions of antiquity, and that our order 
stands prior in point of time as well as of excellence, 
to all societies which profess the cultivation of the 
human heart and the display of the grand and lead- 
ing virtues of our nature. 

It is well known that it was at first composed of 
scientific and ingenious men, who assembled toge- 
ther to improve the arts and sciences, and to culti- 
vate a pure and sublime system of morality Know- 
ledge at that period was restricted to a chosen few 
—but when the invention of printing had opened 
the means of instruction to all ranks of people, then 
the generous cultivators of Masonry communicated 
with cheerfulness to the world those secrets oi the 
arts ant! sciences which had been transmitted and 
improved from the foundation of the institution, 
then our fraternity bent their principal attention to 
the cultivation of morality ; and masonry may now 

K 



11* 

be defined, a morel institution, intruded to promote 

individual and social happiness. Ceri 

there are mysteries pertaining to the or«l i, w 

lusivejy within the knov I 
bcrs. Equally certain it is, that every 
to enrich his mind with knowledge, not only be* 
cause it better qualifies hiVn to discharge the du- 
ties of the character, but because information and 
virtue are generally to be found in the same society, 

Kor these reasons it. is an essential requisite, an in- 

dispensable duty, in every Freemason, to devote to 
the purposes of mental improvement, those l,' 
which remain to him alter pursuing the ordinary 
concerns of life. 
As our Fraternity is thus founded upon morality, 

and the duties which it inculcates are faith! 

transcribed from the laws of nature, and are equally 
binding upon all men, it maj a\v eur questionable at 
first si;;!.;, in what respect its peculiar utility con- 
sists. To accomplish any important benefit, it must 
indeed either inform us of some duties of which 
Ave were before ignorant, or impre 

i r force upon the mind or super-add some 

jhty obligations for their fulfilment. II i'ason- 

ry effects all or either of these important ends, it is 

entitled to be ranked among the b< rs of 

mankind. 

In our estimate of the hum n ch ir k t< r, nothing 
is more difficult than to discriminate between I 
principh s which arise from the original percep- 
tions of tae mind, and those which are deriva- 
tive . d are acquired by adopting the ideas of 
others. For this reason, the influence of example 
and the power oflongestabli lom, have im- 

posed upon the world as innate virtues, those ex- 
cellences which arc th< fruits ol education, reflec- 
tion and civilization. Do the writers on morality 
consult t' e net its of infants unci savages, v« hen the 
fceii. ture would probably oper i< with the 

greatest sway, to discover the virtues oi man ? JSo 



115 

-—they retire to the shades of contemplation — tluy 
survey him in till the attitudes of character — '.he 

nous oJ' circumstance) and the relations of so- 
- ml from a course of investigation, they in- 
fer his duties and his oblij Vhn .sublime 

. i Ly ol the" Christian Religion would have long 

1), fori the world, if the laws of nature are to 

h> i »ofid in the human ncart, unrnlhgled witn those 

k and hostile passions which har rasa society .--J 

11 .me men have a natural prop< hslty to benevo- 

•, others perhaps arc under an Opposite bias, 
It some arc instinctively animated hy the sublimest 
♦ii ues, others are equally degraded by the left 
*n<3 meanest vices. We must not then expect thai 

virtue will rise up spontaneously in the heart.—* 
Thinking and cultivation must cherish and mature 
t4i.' b< nign tendencies of our nature. And how oft 
ten do s it happen, that those who are sufficiently 

tinted with their obligation^, and impressed 
with the necessity :of Conforming to the tawsol 
ral rectitude, forget the important ends of 

ml in the lap of luxury, the glare of w< 
ii •■ blandishment of pleasure, or the inaipidil 

•iice negl ctthe great functions of humanity 3 

after we huvo commenced a course of active 
virtue, it is essential to muse oUr cul- 

tiea, and to present at every Interval of relaxation} 

fresh inducements to renew our efforts, and to ex- 

t competition in the paths of honor and glory. 
We I that the science of human duty is not 

ao familiar as is generally imagined, that it require! 

no inconsiderable application to be enlightened .aid 

informed on a subject so interesting and compli- 
cated} and that, after we have attained the n< 

sary knowledge, after We have formed the i 

lively ideas of the beauties of charity and benevo^ 
lence, vimo strong inducements are necessary to 
carry them into action. A brief review ol the i 
dinal principles of our institution, will shew in the 
most splendid point of view, the lie;ht that Masonry 



116 

¥t fleets ©n the side of virtue, the part she takes,, 
and the motives she holds out to embark, in this 
honorable cause 

In tracing the history of our Order, the tear of 
sensibility involuntariJy flows at the persecutions 
and indignities we have suffered from the united ef- 
forts of priests and tyrants The benevolent spirit of 
coalition, the lively interest in the cause of knowl- 
edge and humanity, and aboveall the secret meet- 
ings which prevailed among our Brethren, alarmed 
those despots, whose authority rests upon the fears, 
not the affections of men. A bigoted hierarchy 
Idndled its horrid flames against our sacred tem- 
ple ; and our proscribed Brethren were forced to 
take shelter in the caverns of the earth, and to 
shroud themselves in the shades of night, in order 
to cultivate the duties of Masonry. Even En- 
gland, the boasted seat of freedom and humanity, 
"has declared in her criminal code, that for Masons 
to assemble together is a crime of the deepest dye ; 
but why resort to remote times and countries,when 
our own eyes have seen within these walls, Bre- 
thren who have fled into this land of liberty, to avoid 
the flames of the inquisition.Groaning under such a 
ioad of severities, it became at an early sera, the 
policy of our. order, to avoid the sanguinary inter- 
ference of their enemies, by shunning all questions 
of party in religion and politics. The advantages 
of this prudential maxim, in uniting the Fraternity 
'ogether, and preventing those animosities which 
too often arise from debate on religious and state 
affairs, are so apparent, that even after the iron hand 
of tyranny is no longer lifted up against us, parti- 
cular politics and religion form no part of our in- 
stitution. It is not to be understood, however, that 
Masonry is entirely silent upon these important 
points. Masonry has her politics and her religion, 
but not the politics of a day, a party, a country, the 
religion of an hour, a priest, a sect — her politics. 
and her religion are commensurate with our spe* 



4ies— coeval with our nature, founded upon the 
best sympathies of the heart — cherished by the 
most enlightened properties of the head— Univer- 
sal good their tendency, and the purest benevolence 
their motive ; and while they spurn the contracted 
views of faction and sect, they elevate the mind by 
a divine energy, above the gross objects which 
chain the ethereal part of our nature down to the 
fleeting considerations of time and place. 

If we look into the world, and examine the di- 
versities of condition which prevail— the elevated 
state of some, and the depressed situation of others 
-*rthe haughty noble, boasting of his illustrious ori- 
gin, and the miserable vassal, bowing to him- the • 
obsequious knee— »the heir of uSiuence rioting in 
all the pomp of luxury, and the unhappy peasant 
eating the bread of misery— the nioii of genius il- 
luminating by his intellectual splendour all around 
him, and the wretched maniac rattling his chains — 
are we not tempted, upon a superficial view, to in- 
fer, that some men are born with greater rights 
than others ? And is not the haughty minion of 
fortune thereby induced to increase his own felici- 
ty and consequence, by violating every maxim of 
justice and humanity** One third of the calamities 
of man has, with reason, been imputed to the go- 
vernments established over him, and to his over- 
looking the principles upon which all governments 
ought to move. Have not prescription and prece- 
dent — -patriarchal dominion- — divine right and mo- 
narchical sacredness, been alternately called in 
to sanction the slavery of nations ? And would not 
all the despotisms of the ancient and modern world, 
have vanished into air, if the natural equality of 
mankind had been properly innderstood and prac- 
ticed upon ? This important truth has been consi- 
dered as hidden from the antients, and as one of 
the wonderful discoveries of modern times.— 
Its solidity and its magnitude are equally obvious. 
The glare of wealth, the pride of birth, the esteg* 
* 3 - ? 



US 

tation of intellect and the hauteur of office, hide 
their diminished heads before it. » It declares that 
the same measure of justice ought to be meted 
out to all men, and that the adventitious inequali- 
ties which grow out of the corruptions of society, 
and the intellectual and physical disparities which 
proceed from inexplicable causes, ought not to 
take precedence of the great moral lights of liberty 
and humanity. Our Institution asserts, in language 
not to be misunderstood, the natural equality of 
mankind. It declares that all brethren are upon a 
level, and it throws open its hospitable doors to all 
men of all nations. It admits of no rank except the 
priority of merit, and its only aristocracy is the no- 
bility of virtue. Such, brethren, is the sole politi- 
cal feature of our society, terrible only to the scour- 
ges of mankind : Cherish the sacred principle 
within your bosoms, rank it among the best affec- 
tions of your hearts, and bequeath it as the richest 
legacy to your successors. 

It must be obvious to a mind of the least reflec- 
tion, that were Masonry to prescribe particular te- 
nets and ©pinions in religion for her votaries, it 
would be utterly incompatible with the universality 
of the order. For this, and the reasons before 
mentioned, she has wisely avoided an explicit pa- 
tronage of any theological creed — The great fun- 
damental principles of natural religion she vene- 
rates and adores ; an athiest can find no admission 
within the walls of a lodge. She well knows that 
in taking the religion of nature, as the ground- 
work of her faith, she not only rests upon the im- 
mutable foundations of truth, but that she adopts a 
principle in which the wise, and the virtuous of all 
nations, countries and languages agree — that those 
systems of artificial theology which have either 
flourished on the soil of popular delusion and im« 
posture, or been immediately communicated from 
the Great First Cause, always court the assistance, 
©r coincide with the principles of natural religion. 



119 

Masonry, therefore, opens her arms to the follow- 
ers of all systems of religion. The Mahometan,, 
the Jew, the Christian, and the Theist, throwing 
aside the madness of religious hatred, meet under 
her protection as friends and brothers. As chris- 
tian Masons, acknowledging the divinity of Christ, 
we have introduced the bible into our lodges to 
manifest our belief in the doctrines which it incul- 
cates. In like manner, the followers of Moses, 
Mohomet, and Brama, may introduce into their Ma- 
sonic assemblies, their Pentateuch, their Alcoran, 
and their Vedam; and yet the unity of Masonry 
would remain — the essential principles on which 
she moves, would be the same — she would still de- 
clare to her votaries, I regard not to what sect you 
attach yourselves; venerate the popular religions of 
your respective countries ; follow the light of your 
own understandings ; forget not, however, the doc- 
trines of the religion of nature ; adore the great 
Architect of the universe; acknowledge the im- 
mortal soul, and look forward to a stare of future 
retribution, when the virtuous of all religions and 
countries shall meet together and enjoy never fad- 
ing bliss. 

We learn from sacred history, that all the inha- 
bitants of the earth are descended from the same 
stock. The ancestors of us ail were once linked 
together by the ties of consanguinity, and the du- 
ties of such a near relation are incumbent upon 
them. One principal branch of the morality of our 
order, consists in res-lori^g that tender connection 
among men, which the infinite diversities of family, 
tribe and nation, had nearly reduced to nothing, 
It inculcates upon its members in their conduct to 
each other, the reciprocal rights and duties of bro- 
thers ; and declares that this artificial consangui- 
nity shall operate with as much force and effect, as 
the natural relationship of blood. A man is bound 
to consult the happiness, to promote the interests 
of his brother j to avoid every thing offensive to his 



feelings ; to abstain from reproach', censure~and 
unjust suspicions; to warn him of the machinations 
cf his enemies ; to apprise him of his errors ; to 
advance the welfare and reputation of his family ; 
to protect the chastity of his house ; to defend his 
life, his property, and what Is dearer to a man of 
honor, his character, against unjust attacks ; to re- 
lieve his wants and his distresses ; to instil into his 
mind proper ideas of conduct in the department of 
life which he is called to fill. If such are the obli- 
gations which a man owes to his brother ; they are 
precisely the duties that one Freemason ought to 
perform to another. Our order enjoins them as 
rules, from which nothing can justify a deviation, 
and considers their infraction a violation of honor 9 
conscience, and religion ; a prostitution of all that 
is deemed sacred and venerable among men 

But Masonry does not confine the benignity of 
her precepts to her followers : She rises higher in 
the scalt of moral excellence,- and enjoins the ob- 
servance vf honor, honesty and good faith to all 
men ; *h^ espouses the cause of universal benevo- 
lence and/virtue; She declares, as unworthy of 
her patronage, those who violate the laws of 
rectitude ; and her votaries exemplify in there 
lives, the truth of the remark, that although there 
be vicious men in the fraternity, yet that they are 
better tlum tney would be if they wert not Masons. 
Of all the virtues which adorn our institution Hea- 
ven-born Charity st nds pre-eminent in rank. It 
is not, however, that restricted beneficence which 
is bfofihed to the Administration of pecuniary re- 
Ik t: it comp'isvS all the benevolent affections 
which oner tional being can entertain for another; 
it teaches us to think, to speak, and to act in the 
most favorable and friendly . f&nncr, with regard to 
our fellow creatures. Thohfe who have mixed in a 
small degree in the world, mum nave often witnes- 
sed the distorted views in which a man's conduct 
has been represented— Some have a native pro-- 



121 

pensity to discolor the excellencies, and to exagge- 
rate the failings of others — The least fault is mag- 
nified into an inexpiable vice ; the defects of na- 
ture become the subject of shameless ridicule, and 
the most innocent actions are attributed to the 
worst motives. There are others who, ambitious 
o\ shining in the walks of wit, make unfriendly ob- 
servations when the heart harbors no malignity; and 
who, for the sake of exciting a momentary pleasure 
in their companions, often rack the feelings of a 
worthy friend. Masonic charity explodes suck 
improper practices. The faults of a fellow crea- 
ture are to be scanned with a brother's eye ; the 
imperfections of humanity are not to be ranked in 
the catalogue of his vices; and if glaring defects 
are seen in his conduct and character, we are not 
to trumpet them forth to the world, and commit? 
to the eagle wings of immortal scandal, those 
failings which should be buried in our benevolent 
sensibilities. 

The numberless ills to which humanity standi 
exposed, render the tear of consolation and the 
hand of relief necessary to make existence sup- 
portable. There is a fund of comfort in unbosom- 
ing our distresses to a sympathetic friend, and al- 
luring his sensibility on the side of our misfortunes* 
A generous mind will cheerfully lend its assistance 
in administering all the consolation to be derived 
from a friendly communication of grief. But, alas^ 
more than Words and tears is often requisite to arrest? 
the arrow? of affliction, and to smooth the rugged 
paths of life. How many of our fellow men are desti- 
tute of the common necessaries of existence ; shut 
up in the dreary walls of prisons, and deprived of 
the air and light of Heaven. Languishing in the 
midst of heipiess families of children, without 
clothing to screen them from the wintry biast, or 
food to protect them from the voracious jaws of 
famine : No better prospect before them than mi- 
sery ; hope, the last refuge of the wretched, nearly 



converted Into despair, and the retrospect of past 
days serving as an ignia fatuua, to bewilder them 
deeper in affliction, and upon its uisuppearance to 
increase the " darkness visible" of their misery.— 
How glorious, how God-like to step forth to the 
relief of such distress ; to arrest the tear of sorrow ; 
to disarm affliction of its darts ; to smooth thr; i{- 
low of declining age; to rescue from the dominion of 
vice, the helpless infant, and to diffuse the 
lively joys over a whole family of rational, immor- 
tal creatures. And how often has our institution 
done all this and more ? How often has it shower- 
ed down its golden gifts into the seemingiy inac- 
cessible dungeons of misery ? How often lias it ir- 
radiated with its beneficent rays, the glooms of 
affliction, and converted the horrors of despair into 
the meridian splendor of unexpected joy ? How of- 
ten has it, with its philanthropic voice, recalled the 
Unhappy wanderer into the paths of felicity, and 
with its powerful arm, protected from the grasp of 
malice and oppression, the forlorn outcast of soci- 
ety i Let the widow, the orphan, the prisoner, the 
debtor, the unfortunate, witness, its beneficent 
deeds, and in a symphony of gratitude declare, that 
©n the flight of ail the other virtues, charity, as wel! 
as hops, remained to bless mankind. 

Having already trespassed on your patience, J. 
shall at present wave any further general observa- 
tions, and shall close with a few remarks mors par- 
ticularly apphcc ble to Holland Lodge. 

Masonry, lire the arts tnd sciences, shuns the 

din of arms and courts the still shades of peace 

The late »var having nearly destroyed all the once 
flourishing lodges of this state, spirited attempts 
were made at the conclusion of the peace to re-es- 
tablish the interest of the fraternity : and, owing to 
the exertions of the Grand Lodge, and their judi- 
cious election of a Grand Master,* who unites all 



* The H.m\.. R. R, Livingston. Chancellor of.th^ 
State. 



* 12S 

the accomplishments which can adorn the scholar, 
the tenth uu.. and the statesman, M. sonry begun 
again to lift up ner head und flourish — but still the 
wounds she had received were not entirely healed 
— — still she felt the ravages which wai Lad made 
upon her empire : About five years ago, those 
wounds received a final cure — those ravages en- 
tirely disappeared, upon the complete estabiish- 
mentof Holland Lodge : for, without intending the 
least disparagement to the other Very respectable 
lodges of this city, I am warranted in declaring, 
that our institution was not in as flourishing a con- 
dition, as it was before the revolution, until this 
lodge was founded, and gave a spring to the cause 
«f Masonry, till then unknown and unexpected. To 
what source are we to impute this flourishing con- 
dition ? The causes, my brethren, shall now be ex- 
plained,- and it is to be hoped will sink deep into 
our minds and govern our future conduct. The 
zeal, ardor, activity, industry,- and attention of its 
members — a regular and punctual attendance at 
our meetings- — a most sacred observance of order 
and decorum in the hours of labour — the applica- 
tion and abilities of the presiding and other officers 
— and a superior styie of working, wisely calculated 
to impress the mind with the solemnity of our in- 
stitution, and to engage the attention and skill of 
all the members. These arc the general causes— 
There are others of a more special nature, which 
it would be ungrateful to omit, and folly to attempt 
to conceal. Did not delicacy forbid, 1 could men- 
tion the name of a brother,* who called this -lodge 
into being, protected its infant years, and reared it 
to its preseni height and prosperity : 1 could enu- 
merate to you his unexampled zeal— his eminent 
abii'ty — his unremitted . ttention, and his unrival- 
led disinterestedness in the cause of Masonry. And 
however high sounding this tribute of honest 



* R. J. Van Den Broeck, Esq. 



124 

"praise "may appear, it must be protected from the 
reproach 01 flattery, by the grutef«l feelings which 
animate the bosom 01 t very metnt e \ r - no hears me, 
arid who knows that the brother to whom I allude, 
stands in the fust rank among the revivers of Ma- 
sonry in tnis state ; and that Holland Lodge parti- 
cularly, pwejs him a debt of gratitude which no re- 
turn can cancel and no time discharge. ' Did not 
delicacy forbid,' 8 could also mention to you the 
came of a brother,* who, at a time when the sincere 
well-wishers of the lodge began to tremble for its 
prosperity, was called to preside over us, and who 
by his distinguished good conduct, disappointed 
even the most sanguine expectations of his friends, 
and infused new principles of life and vigor into 
the order 1 Did not delicacy forbid, I couid men- 
tion to you the names of other brethren, wiio have 
never been clothed with our jewels, but who, in 
their private stations, have devoted a great propor- 
tion oi their time,and dedicated their best abilities to 
increase and ornament the lodge — But why allude 
to benefits so familiar to us all, and which, I ;n 
persuaded, will serve as motives of emulation, to 
equal, if not surpass the most distinguished of our 
benefactors. Sensible I am, brethren, that neither 
my age, experience, nor abilities entitle me to fill 
this place, to which your partiality, not my m r t, 
has called me ; Sensible I am, that it is surrounded 
with difficulties and embarrassments; that it re- 
quires promptitude of expression, quicknes* of 
thought, and firmness and presence of mind — and 
that it demands conciliating manners, an instan- 
taneous perception of character, and a considerable 
knowledge of mankind : But 1 turn with pleasure 
from this disagreeable prospect, to contemplate 



* John Abrams, Esq. Secretary of the Grand 
Lodge. 



125 

the aid I shall derive from our experienced and 
able Past Masters, from the zeal and activity of our 
wardens, and from the general prevalence of good 
order and decency among the members. 

Let us then, my brethren, unite every exertion 
to continue the flourishing condition of Holland 
Lodge, and to subserve the general cause of our 
fraternity. We have seen the propitious influence 
of masonry upon society and virtue — we have seen 
it possessed of every respectable attribute that can 
dignify or embellish an institution — we have seen 
it the patron of science, the friend of good govern- 
ment, and the handmaid of morality — and we have 
seen it, Howard-like, exploring the dreary prison 
and the miserable cottage, to seek the unfortunate ; 
and with the out-stretched hand of charity, turning 
tears into smiles and affliction into joy. May we 
not then expect the smiles of the Almighty Dispen- 
ser of all good upon our masonic labours, and that 
when we shall be called into that " undiscovered 
country from whose bourne no traveller returns ;" 
when Faith changed into sight — Hofic lost in frui- 
tion ; and Charitij become as expanded as the Di- 
vine Love — that then the Grand Master of Heaven 
and Earth will reward our work, and give us wis- 
dom to relish, strength to support, and beauty to 
atlorn the perennial seats of celestial joy. 



126 



CHAPTER Xm. 



AN ADDRESS, 

Delivered in the year 1812, by W. P. M. John 
Vandeebixt, Jvn. one of the Committee of 
the masonic Free-School, to the Farents and 
Guardians of the Children committed to their 
care* 

Parents and Guardians of the Masonic Free-School, 
You have been invited to attend this afternoon 
to witness the examination of your children, and 
the progress they are making in their education. 
The trustees of this institution, equally solicitous 
with you, to promote their welfare, hail you as 
welcome guests ; that together with you, they may 
admire the rapid progress your offspring is making 
under the particular care of their amiable and 
■worthy teacher, and the fostering care and protec- 
tion of the trustees of this school. 

But whatever satisfaction we at the present mo- 
ment may derive from the extraordinary proficiency 
thus exhibited, the mind rises on the wing of lofty 
contemplation to comprehend the many and extra- 
ordinary duties thus assigned to you as parents, and 
to us as trustees. 

Permit me then, on this solemn and interesting 
occasion, to draw your attention in the first place 
to the duties incumbent on you, respecting your 
offspring, and the obligation you are under to the 
benefactors of this institution, and in a more partic- 
ular manner towards the trustees; for in vain are 
all their labour, in vain are all their admonitions, 
intreaties and reproofs, unless you as parents and 



127 

guardians, by a holy walk and conversation, set 
examples of piety, religion, and morality before 
them : for remember the neglect of this important 
duty will have a tendency instead of initiating 
them in the school of science and improvement, 
they will remain objects of pity and commiseration, 
and subjects for the school of ignorance and vice. 
For it is an undeniable fact and daily experience 
confirms the assertion, that ignorance is the lead- 
ing feature of vice : for view your prisons, your 
dungeons, your bridewells, and your hospitals, and 
ask those unfortunate beings the awful question, 
how came you here? if the dictates of conscience 
speak, the heart-rending answer in numerous 
instances will be, my parents never, gave me edu- 
cation, they neglected me in the days of my youth, 
they never put the sacred scriptures in my hands, 
alas ! they never took me to the house of God, they 
never prayed for themselves or for us, they indulged 
us in breaking the holy sabbath, when committing 
sin they never reproved or admonished us, but per- 
mitted us to walk in paths of tf darkness leading 
down to the chambers of death ;" thus am I plun- 
ged through ignorance and vice in the abyss of 
misery ; lost to parents and friends, lost to my coun- 
try and society; alas ! lost to myself, and am with 
dread apprehension looking out for the just judg- 
ment of an angry and avenging G6d. 

My dear friends these are serious considerations 
and ought to influence the minds of those who neg- 
lect these important duties to their offspring, to be 
up and doing. Yes, at this very moment to form 
a resolution never to be broken, to be truly in earn- 
est in the work of an immediate repentance, and an 
eager return to their forsaken God, their friend and 
father. 

Parents, are you not the subjects who brought 
these little dependent creatures into existence ? 
and is there no duty attached to your conduct to 
bring them lip in the fear and admonition of thf 



Lord ? Yes, commanded by the ties of nature, by 
present affection and regard, by the dictates of con- 
science, by the sacred oracles of Almighty God ; by 
the strivings of his spirit, and by the loud call of 
3 T our country ; to bring them up as shining orna- 
ments of society, and pillars in the temple of the 
most high. 

Arouse then, arouse from this unwarrantable 
state of apathy ; join hand in hand with the benefac- 
tors of this institution ; take the word of divine m- 
spiration and read it daily to your offspring : if 
you cannot read, many of your children, God's name 
be blessed, can read it for you. If you have neg- 
lected prayer, henceforth be importunate at the 
throne of. -.grace : If you have not words to utter, 
pray with groanings that cannot be uttered ; thus 
Will your morning and evening devotion rise up 
before God as incense, and the lifting up of your 
hands prove an acceptable sacrifice, take the dear 
objects of your affection by the hand every sabbath, 
mid attend the ordinances of God's house and wor- 
ship. For believe me, that the profanation of the 
sabbath, and the taking of God's holy name in vain, 
are the leading and predominant vices of the day ; 
and that in defiance of the laws of our country and 
the declaration of the Almighty, delivered in awful 
thunders from Sinai's holy mount, and yet how 
many do we hear and see daily trample those sacred 
precepts under foot ! for behold your rivers every 
sabbath witnessed with the sails of pleasure boats 
floating down the gentle stream ; but little do such 
transgressors consider that they are floating down 
the stream of perdition, and if continuing in such 
abominable vices, will be ultimately plunged in the 
avenging sea of God's wrath and indignation — . 
Behold your streets lined every sabbath with chil- 
dren imprecating curses upon their own heads ; and 
some parents can even smile at hearing a lisping 
cherub take God's name in vain, instead of using 
rhe rod* of correction, ©r admonishing even with 



129 

a gentle reproof. Can such expect in the great day 
o£ retribution, to use the language of good old Josh- 
ua, and say " Here Lord am I and the children thou 
hast given nie." Truly you will wish to be one of 
these ; but alas for you, the sentence will be, « depart 
from me ye workers of iniquity, into outer dark- 
ess ; I know y©u not." 

Think not my dear friends that I admonish with 
too much severity ; God forbid, that any of you or 
yours should be guilty of so heinous a sin : should 
there be any, pray to your heavtnly father for for- 
giveness that he might view with an eye of pity and 
compassion your fallen degeneracy, and with all 
^hat divine energy wherewith he created our first 
parents pure, might restore you again to your ori* 
ginal purity ; that he might take away from within 
you, those obdurate hearts of stone, and give you 
the more pliant substitute, a heart of flesh, that he 
might curb within the tender reins of his power 
and mercy, all the evil propensities of your fallen 
and degenerate state : that he may convince you 
that in that fall you fell from your happiness^ be- 
cause you departed from him, the source of all pu- 
rity, the foundation ofalltruie felicity. Purify then 
your hearts from every strange and unholy affec- 
tion; may the love of the worI4 and the love of every 
gin jbe rooted out from every bosom, and your 
souls made the aboding receptacles of the Holy 
Spirit, with all its divise and holy affections'. Thus 
doing you will contract all those holy tempers, all 
those pious habits which alone can constitute suita- 
ble inhabitants of that holy state where iniquity and 
the children of iniquity can have no admission ; 
where all tears shall be wiped froni your eyes ; 
where" all the toils' and labours of sorrows shall bfe 
succeeded with an eternal rest; and where your 
souls shall be completely solaced witlv the s'wee't 
and pleasant refreshments of puro unsuMi&d love, of 
lasting and uriabatirig. felicity. 
- Ijetthis'Stimcem^dear friends,- fl*o& s'eritiiiietot* 
l 2 



450 

have originated from pure motives of affection to- 
wards you, and the love I bear to the dear children 
you have put under our care : the Trustees have 
injoined upon me to intreat you to keep a particular 
watch over the morals of your children during the 
vacation, which will commence to-morrow, and the 
school will be opened again three weeks from next 
Monday. In the mean time may the blessing of 
God await you, may he protect you and yours from 
every snare and temptation, may he crown your 
endeavours to promote the welfare of your children 
with success ; may he fill your baskets and your 
store with the abundance of his providential bless- 
higs ; but above all, may he bless you with all spirit- 
ual blessings in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

My dear little children of every department in 
this school, you objects of my sincere affection and 
regard. 

In what language shall I address you ? shall X 
call to mind the many pleasing hours I have spent 
with you during the establishment of this institu- 
tion ? Shall I reflect on the rapid progress many of 
you have made in your education ? Shall I proclaim 
the praise of those meritorious scholars who are 
educated by sincere motives of obedience to their 
teacher, their parents, and the benefactors of this 
institution ? yes, my heart leaps for joy, and my 
tongue shall ever pronounce your praise ; yes, with 
the love a father bears to his children, will I con- 
tinue to give you every aid and assistance, as long 
as my feeble abilities can promote your happiness 
and welfare; and although my duties as one of the 
standing committee on this day expires, yet often, 
often shall ray prayers ascend to the throne of grace 
for blessings upon you and your parents. Let me 
then intreat you not to despise the proffered offer 
of your benefactors, not to lose one moment, not 
to neglect or abuse the opportunity you now en- 
joy, be attentive to your studies, adhere with due 
obedience to the admonitions and instructions of 



SSI 

your worthy teacher ; honor your father and mother 
that your days may be long in the land which the 
Lord your God* giveth you: Adhere particularly 
to the earnest intreaties of your trustees and bene- 
factors, wound not their feelings by a neglect of 
duty, so as to give them cause to complain that all 
the expence, the labor and pains they have bestowed, 
have proved in vain ; the sacred'scriptures are daily 
put in your hands ; delight to meditate on its con- 
tents ; admire the worship of God, so that you! souls 
may go out in ardent prayers to God, and wait for 
his blessing. Thus doing you will remember your 
Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil 
-days come, when you shall have to say, I have no 
pleasure in them. 

Is there any among you who are guilty of that 
wretched practice of playing truant and neglecting 
your studies, who are trifling with the admonition 
of your teacher, who are disobedient to your parents, 
who set at nought the solemn warnings of your 
benefactors and trustees ; shall I pronounce your 
praise to this audience ? can we admire your con- 
duct ? no you have no share in our affection, but 
that of pity. 

Shall I select you out, and hold you up here as 
a public spectacle to your parents and friends, of 
scorn and derision ? no, for this time we will pardon 
your infirmities. But while I raise my monitory 
voice against your transgressions, form a resolution 
to return from your evil ways, that we may have 
reason to rejoice at the next examination, that our 
admonitions have had the desired effect ; but if you 
are determined to persist in your vice, let me tell 
f. ou, you can have no claim upon our benevolence^. 



CHARITY 

THE FIRST OF MASONIC DUTIES. 

Many valuable and important papers have beee 
written on the subject of freemasonry, which, in a 
word, serve to illustrate the principles of the insti- 
tution. It would be unnecessary to offer any re- 
marks on this head. It is my intention to show, 
that charity does, and always did, form a particular 
ingredient in the character of a free and accept- - 
ed mason. Although the charity of a mason ex- 
tends to the whole human family, of which each in- 
dividual is a child, yet, a certain class of men having 
enlisted under the banners of the order, to partake 
of the several benefits and privileges, it is but rea- 
sonable to suppose, that they should, individually 
and collectively, tome under our particular notice. 
Is it not the fact in all societies designed for chari- 
table purposes ? Do not the individuals composing 
such an institution unite together, in order to assist 
their fellow members in the hour of distress and 
trial ? Are they not, in a particular manner, subser- 
vient to other ends ; for the relief of widows, or- 
phans, &c. ? 

All these institutions, which are numerous and 
generally well conducted, have at all times received 
the patronage of the liberal and enlightened. But 
my reader, in the order of freemasonry, the in- 
stances are numerous and beyond calculation, where 
the benefits of the society have extended to the re- 
lief of distressed brethren, widows, and orphans. 
It is sometimes said, by those who have not been 
initialed into the society, " I have never seen any 
gpod arising from it ;'" — nor, indeed, will they, un- 
til they are regularly initiated. As well might they 
endeavour to obtain the secrets of a mason, which 
we all know, have existed from time immemorial, 
as to become acquainted with the charitable trans- 
actions of a lodge ; or, to know when an individual 
stretches out his hand to serve a distressed brother, 



±3S 

with whom he is often made acquainted by those in* 
violable secrets, which constitute, among freema- 
sons, a universal language. What has the world 
to do with private transactions ; whether a widow, 
an orphan, or a pilgrim; has obtained relief ? If the y 
were, then, as well might the mysteries of light be 
unfolded to them ! 

The peculiar excellence of the institution does 
not rest in the display of virtues merely civil, nor 
in the jewels which adorn the mason ; nor, in a 
word, in external show or grandeur. Though 
these have their several ends, some of which are 
absolutely essential to form the appropriate cloth- 
ing of a mason* yet charity, benevolence, and love, 
constitute the basis of the temple. Thousands, 
and I may add, tens of thousands, have witnessed 
the kindly offices of masons : the widow and the 
orphan, whose petitions have never been rejected, 
can also witness, not only in this, but in every quar- 
ter of the globe, the charity of a mason. 

Charity ! thou heavenborn virtue ! long mayest 
theu preside as the guardian genius of masonry ; 
and may wisdom, strength and beauty, remain the 
three great pillars. 



BRIEF BUT SIGNIFICANT DESCRIPTION 
OF FREEMASONRY. 

Mr. Arnold, in his Dutch Dictionary, under the 
word " Freemasonry," says, that it is " a Moral 
Order, instituted by virtuous men, with the praise- 
worthy design of recalling to our remembrance the 
most sublime truths, in the midst of the most inno- 
cent and sociable pleasures, founded on liberality, 
'protherly love ? and charity." 



£34 

XV ADDRESS 
TO FREEMASONS IN GENBRAL. 

Stretch forth your hands to assist a brother wheri 
ever it is in 'your power ; to be always ready to go 
any where to serve him ; to offer your warmest pe- 
titions for his welfare ; to open your breasts and 
hearts to him; to assist him with your best couasel 
and advice ; to soothe the anguish of his soul, and 
betray no confidence he reposes in you ; to support 
him with your authority; to use your utmost en- 
deavours to prevent him from falling ; to relieve 
his wants as far as you are able, without injuring 
yourselves or your families. In short, mutually to 
support and assist each other, and earnestly to pro- 
mote one another's interest, are duties which (well 
you know) are incumbent upon you; But do these 
duties always influence you ? Are they not too of- 
ten forgotten ? Your worthy brother too frequently 
neglected, and the stranger preferred to those of 
your own household ? Ye are connected by solemn 
promises : let those always be so remembered ae to 
direct your actions : for then, and then only, will 
you preserve your consciences void of offence, and 
prepare that firm cement of utility and affection^ 
which time will have no power to destroy. 



SKETCHES OF THE ROYAL ART. 

FROM the earliest ages of antiquity, the royal 
art w r as ever taught with the greatest circumspec- 
tion, not in schools or academies, to a promiscuous 
audience, but was confined to certain families ; the 
rulers of which instructed their children or disci- 
pies, and by this means conveyed their mysterious 
knowledge to posterity. 

After the flood, the professors of this art were 
first distinguished by the name of Noachidae, after- 
wards by that of Sages or Wise Men, (men in- 
structed a* Moses, in all the wisdom of the Egyp- 



ISo 

tians,) Chaldeans, Philosophers, Masters in Israel, 
he. aiid were ever venerated as sacr* d persons. 
They consisted of persons of the brightest parts 
and genius, who exerted their utmost abilities in 
discovering and investigating the various mysteries 
of nature, from whence to draw improvements and 
inventions of the most useful consequences. Men 
whose talents were not only employed in specula- 
tion, or in private acts of beneficence ; but. who 
were also public blessings to the age and countries, 
in which they lived, possessed with moderate de- 
sires, who knew how to conquer their passions ; 
practisers and teachers of the purest morality, and 
ever exerting themselves to promote the harmony 
and felicity of society. They were therefore con- 
sulted from all parts, and venerated with that sin- 
cere homage which is never paid but to real merit j 
and the greatest and wisest potentates "on earth es- 
teemed it an addition to their imperial dignities, to 
be enrolled among such bright ornaments of human 
nature. 

A principal excellence, which rendered them fa- 
mous among men, was taciturnity, which in a pe- 
culiar manner they practised and inculcated as ne- 
cessary for concealing from the unworthy what few 
were qualified to learn, and still fewer to teach.—. 
Qui necerit tacere loqui. 



BRIEF ANALYSIS of MASONIC PRINCIPLES 
AM EXTRACT. 
And will your candour and patience indulge 
the orator of the day, in a momentary, concluding 
address; An address, whose primary object is to 
exhibit an epitome of masonic principles, disrobed 
of the veil of mystery ; and whose secondary aim 
impels the crimson blush to the marble front oi 
Barru*-;. This demon of detraction first sounded 
tl&e-to-cij.k c£ falsehood against masonry j and Robin- 



136 

son reechoed its malignant tones, from the cliffs of 
Albion to the shores pf the western wciid. Ihe 
general charges pf both are^that masonry is equally 
hostile to the altar and the throne ; and that all her 
secret energies are directed to prostrate religion in 
the dust,; and overwhelm govenfiimnt by the arm 
of rebellion, leading onward the genius of Anarchy. 
To these charges, we plead not guilty, in the pre- 
sence of heaven above, and earth beneath ; and 
lodge our last, most solemn appeal, to the dread 
uibunal of an omniscient God ! who knoweth, as 
« the searcher of all hearts," that religion, in her 
every form, is treated by masons with awful reve- 
rence ; and that government, in its every mode, re- 
ceives the faithful obedience of the craft ; for at 
no time, hath the stroke of the ax of religious bi- 
gotry been heard within our peaceful walls ; nor the 
sound of the hammer of political intolerance, dis- 
turbed philanthropic harmonies ; while in all the 
conscious pride of innocence and truth, we dare 
to affirm before assembled worlds, that the banners 
of the mystic order emblazon these mottos, to the 
blaze of solar day. " Fear God ; honour the king ; 
love the brotherhood ; reverence deity ; respect 
magistrates ; do good unto all, and perfect glory- 
in the heights of the highest, by peace and good 
will upon earth/' 

These true sayings, my brethren and my friends, 
contain a brief analysis of masonic principles ; and 
principles of so benevolent a nature can involve no 
dangerous mysteries ; for beneficence of practical 
deed excludes secret conspiracy, and abhors open 
ir surrection ; neither is it possible for us to be con- 
taminated by the vices that mar the happiness of 
individuals, or polluted by those crimes which 
blast the felicities of wretched millions ; for friend- 
ship, morality, and brotherly love forbid the first ; 
and brotherly love, relief, and truth forbid the se- 
cond. In a word, the Wise Grand Master of an- 
cient Israei na« impressed a moral seal on every 



i37 



-power of operative art ; and his amiable successor 
St. John inscribes speculative truth* on the chisel 
and the mallet, the rough ashler and the polished 
stone ; while the line, the rule, the plirm, the level, 
and the square, possess the gift of tongues. 



CHARACTER OF A FREEMASON- 

The real freemason is eminently distinguished 
from the rest of mankind, by the uniform unre- 
strained rectitude of his conduct. Other men are 
honest in fear of the punishment which the law 
might inflict; they are religious in expectation of 
being rewarded, or in the dread of the devil, in the 
next world. A freemason would be just, if tiiere 
were no written laws human or divine, except 
those which are written on his heart by the finger 
of his Creator, in every climate, under every sys- 
tem of religion, he is the same. He kneels before 
the universal throne of God, in gratitude for the 
blessings he has received, and in huuible solicita- 
tion for his future protection. He venerates the 
good men of all religions. He disturbs not the re- 
ligion of his country, because the agitation of spe- 
culate 'opinions produces greater evils than the 
errors it is intended to remove. He restrains his 
passions, because they cannot be indulged without 
injuring his neighbour or himself He gives no 
offence, because he does not cnoose to be offended. 
He contracts no debts which he is not certain that 
he Can discharge, because he is honest upon princi- 
ple. He never utters a falsehood, because it is 
cowardly, and infinitely beneath the dignity of a 
re.d free and accepted mason, which is the noblest 
character on earth. 



M 



158 



A MASONIC HYMN. 

UNTO thee, great God, belong 
Mystic rites and sacred song. 
Lowly bending at thy shrine, 
We hail thy Majesty divine. 
Glorious Architect above, 
Source of light and source of love, 
Here thy light and love prevail ! 
Hail ! Almighty Master, hail '. 

"Whilst in yonder regions bright, 
The sun by day, the moon by night, 
And the stars that gild the sky, 
Blazon forth thy praise on high. 
Join, O earth ! and, as you roll, 
From east to west, from pole to pole, 
Lift to Heaven your grateful lays, 
Join the universal praise. 

Warm'd by thy benignant grace, 
Sweet Friendship linkd the human race - t 
Pity lodg'd within her breast, 
Charity became her guest. 
There the naked raiment found ; 
Sickness balsam for its wound ; 
Sorrow comfort, hunger bread, 
Strangers there a welcome shed. 

Still to us, O God ! dispense 
Thy divine benevolence. 
Teach the tender tear to flow, 
Melting at a brother's woe, 
Like Samaria's son, that we 
Blest with boundless charity, 
To th' admiring world rm y prove 
They dwell in God who dwell in love. 



139 

A PRAYER* 

Said at the opening of the Lodge, or making a new 
Brother, &c. used by Jewish Freemasons 

O Lord, excellent art thou in thy truth, and 
there is nothing great in comparison to thee ; for 
thine is the praise from all the works of thine 
hands for evermore. 

Enlighten us, we beseech thee, in the true 
knowledge of Masonry : By the sorrows of Adam, 
thy first made man ; by the blood of Abel, the holy 
one ; by the righteousness of Seth, in whom thou 
art well pleased ; and by the covenant with JVoah, 
in whose architect thou wast pleased to save the 
seed o- thy beloved ; number us not among those 
that know not thy statutes, nor the divine mysteries 
of thy secret Cabala. 

But grant, we beseech thee, that the ruler of this 
Lodge may be endued with knowledge and wisdom, 
to instruct us and explain his secret mysteries, as 
our holy brother Moses did (in his Lodge) to Aaron, 
to Eleazar and Ithamar, (the sons of Aaron,) and 
the several elders of Israel. 

And grant that we may understand, learn, and 
keep all the statutes and commands of the Lord, 
and this holy mystery, pure and undefiled unto the 
end of our lives. Amen, Lord. 



A PRAYER 

Used by primitive Christian Masons. 
The might of the Father of heaven, and the wis- 
dom of his glorious Son, through the grace and 
goodness of the Holy Ghost, being three persons 
in one Godhead, be with us at our beginning, and 
give us grace so to govern us here in our living, 
that we may come to his bliss that never shall have 
end. Amen. 



148 

A PRAYER 

Repeated in the Royai-Arch Lodge at Jerusalem. 

Thon hast loved us, O Lord our God, with eter- 
nal love ; thou hast spared us with great and ex- 
ceeding- patience, our Father and our King, for 
thy Great Name's sake, and for our fathers' sake, 
who trusted in thee, and to whom thou didst teach 
the statutes of life, that they might do after the 
Statutes of thy good pleasure with a perfect heart; 
go be thou merciful to us, O our Father ! Merciful 
Father, that sheweth mercy, have mercy upon us, 
we beseech thee, and put understanding into our 
hearts, that we may understand, be wise, hear, 
learn, teach, keep, do, and perform, all the words 
of the doctrine of thy law in love, and enlighten 
our eyes in thy commandments, and cause our 
hearts to cleave to thy law, and unite them in the 
love and fear of thy Name ; we will not be asham- 
ed, nor confounded, nor stumble, for ever and 
ever. 

Because we have trusted in thy holy, great, migh- 
ty, and terrible Name, we will rejoice and be glad 
in thy salvation, and in thy mercies, O Lord our 
God ; and the multitude of thy mercies shall not 
forsake u» for ever : Selah. And now make haste 
and bring upon us a blessing, and peace from the 
four corners of the earth ; for thou art a God that 
workest salvation, and has chosen us out of every 
people and language ; and thou our king, hast caus- 
ed us to cleave to thy great Name, in love to praise 
thee, and to be united to thee, and to love thy 
Name : Blessed art thou, O Lord God, who hast 
chosen thy people Israel in love* 



MA c ONIC SENTIMENTS AND TOASTS. 
1. The day — The proudest in the annals of our 
Lodge : May it prove the most propitious on the 
tablets of Charity. 



141 

2. The memory of Brother General George 
Washingto — May the gratitude of Masons display 
itself in deeds, and rouse the slumbering sensibility 
of the nation. 

3. The grand Lodges of the United States — Wis- 
dom to their deliberations, strength to their mea- 
sures, and moral beauty to their couduct. 

4. Our Country — devotion to its interests, one of 
the proudest traits in the Masonic character. 

5. Our Fair Sisters — Their happiness the princi- 
pal object of our institution— in excluding beauty 
from the temple of wisdom, we distrust ourselves 
rather than them. 

6. The Academy of Fine Arts, and the Society 
of Artists — They have sown " good seed in good 
ground ;" may they be remunerated by an abundant 
harvest. 

7. The Clergy of the United States — Guardians 
of the first great light of Masonry, they display its 
influence by lives spent in acts of piety and devo- 
tion. 

8. The Mystic Signal — The last appeal ; never 
be it given without effect. 



DUTIES OF A MASON. 

Thy first homage thou owest to the Deity; the 
second to the authority of civil society. 

Honour the fathers of the state ; love thy coun- 
try ; be religiously scrupulous in the fulfilling of 
all the duties of a good cit'zen : consider that they 
are become sacred by the voluntary masonic vow; 
and that the violation of them in a profane man, 
would be weakness ; but in thee, hypocrisy and cri- 
minality. 

MASONIC PRECEPTS. 

The end, the moral, and the purport of masonry, 
is to subdue our passions, not to do our own will 



±-i2 

to make a daily progress in a laudable art ; to pro- 
mote morality, charity, good fellowship, good nature, 
and humanity. This is the substance, let the form 
or vehicle be ever so unaccountable. 



MASONIC SONG. 

'lis almost high noon, 
And our labour may soon 

In its various toils be suspended, 

And the Grand Master's call 
Shall announce to us all, 

That with joy our refreshment is blended. 

But ere we have done, 

Let us look at the Sun, 
And admire his meridian beauty ; 

'Tis a most cheering sight, 

Pure, glorious, and bright, 
Enlightening and prompting to duty. 

We rejoice in the day, 

And we wish to display 
The effects of fair wisdom and kindness, 

And pity the plight 

Of those who have light, 
Yet wilfully grope in their blindness. 

With industry still, 

And with ^seal and good will, 
Let us work for ourselves and for others ; 

Free, accepted, and true, 

What is worthy pursue, 
As becomes a firm, band of good brothers. 

So when at the last, 

Our days are all past, 
And the mandate to rest shall be given, 

We- all may be fit 

These labours to quit, 
To be calPd to refreshment in heaven. 



*43 

Be it then our delight 

Hand in hand to unite, 
Of true love and of help the sure token— 

That ascending the skies, 

Hand in hand we may rise, 
And our union continue unbroken. 



ST. ELBA. 

As many persons may wish to learn something re- 
lative to the Island of Elba, which Bonaparte has 
chosen for his future residence ; I have availed my- 
self of a letter recently written at the request of 
William Coleman, Esq of this city, by a gentle- 
man who resided for some time on that Island 

The letter is written in an accurate and handsome 
style. 

" Dear Sir — You request me to give you some 
account of Elba. This Island is situated on the 
coast of Italy, sixty miles to the southward of Leg* 
horn, five miles from the rruin land. It is about 20 
miles long and seven broad. There are four con* 
«ider«*ble towns in it, and it contains about 15,000 
inhabitants. It is very mountainous, particularly 
towards the south-west end, where they rise to a 
sublime height. The soil is generally poor ; there 
are however. some rich vallies. It has two fine har- 
bours, Porto Ferrara, and Porto Longoni, with 
towns of the same name upon each of them. 
Porto Ferrar* on the north-west side is the capital 1 , 
and is ts wi 11 built as any town of the &me size 
that I have seen in lu iy. The inhabitants were 

very kind to me, and t:re hospitable to strangers - 

The northern putt of the Island formerly belo: ged 
to the Grand Dukes of Tuscany ; the other side to 
!Naples, and was a plaee to which her convicts were 
sent. To this Island, also, you may recollect it was 



1-i-i 






that the great but unfortunate Touesaint of St. 
mingo was to have been sent a piisciu r, and by the 
man, who now biings this Island into notice, by 
ch using it as the haven of repose when he is obliged 
to retire from the stormy ocean of empire. Six- 
teen of Toussaint's principal followers were sent 
here; with two of whom I became acquainted, and 
were strongly solicited to favour their tsc.pe. It 
is needless, to tell you that the climate is fine. J he 
Island produces a light red wire, some fruit, and 
salt for exportation ; but in no considc r ible quanti- 
ties. The iron mines of Elba are ext nsive, and 
have been wrought lunger e en fchan the story of 
them is known. r l he Island bore rather the marks 
of poverty; the roads were not in good repair, and 
in fact the Island is too uneven to make much use 
of carriages of pleasure. It is the fine harbour of 
Porto Ferrara, and the natural strong position of the 
town, that make this Island desirable. In the hands 
of a power at war with the States of Italy it would 
become a valuable depot. Many of the conscripts 
from Italy were brought here to be trained for the 
field of war. 

The views from the Island are grand. On the 
one hand is the coast of Italy as far to the north- 
ward as the mountains of Genoa : on the other 
Corsica with its iofy mountains relieves the eye 
from an unintenupted expanse of in oceanvview.— - 
Other small 1 lards lie in the m ighbourhoou to di- 
versify the scene. To a mind fond of retirem 
©r solely bent on the pursuits of literature, Elba may 
become a pleasant residence : But to a mind ac- 
customed to the noise of war, or to tire sweet blan- 
dishments of polished society, Elba with all its 
views, and t il its charms, must appear but a. more 
extended prison.'* 



FINIS. 



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